Chula Vista’s Lauderbach Park is getting a makeover.
The California Department of Parks and Recreation awarded the city a $1 million grant for park improvements and adding more sports fields.
The grant funds the California Youth Soccer and Recreation Development program. The program provides funding for development projects that create new opportunities for youth soccer, baseball and basketball; with the intent of the project to serve low-income urban areas with high youth crime and unemployment rates.
“There’s been high amounts of crime and homeless activity in that park for some years now so we’re looking to transform the image of the park as well as increase the programming for that facility and that area,” said Tim Farmer, principal recreation manager. “(We want to) encourage more activity, more positive outcomes and really get youths and families involved in that space.”
The state’s Department of Parks and Recreation awarded 25 grants totaling $16 million for the California Youth Soccer and Recreation Development program. Farmer said Chula Vista was one of 150 applicants to apply for the grant and one of 25 to be awarded the grant.
With the grant, Lauderbach Park will have an artificial turf field space designating two youth softball fields with youth soccer overlay field.
Additional development includes the installation of sports lighting supporting the artificial turf field, and installation of a decomposed granite spectator area supporting the sports fields furthering a water conservation measure of this project.
Farmer said the city’s park and recreation department would hold an administrative workshop next week that outlines the details and guide for the grant. He anticipates construction to start early 2018 with the projects to be completed in 12 to 18 months from that time.
Farmer said the city’s homeless outreach team has been doing a great job in providing resources to the homeless that stay at Lauderbach Park. But, he said, there is still a contingent of homeless people at the park that causes some uneasiness from the community to use the current fields at the park.
Farmer said with new facilities, he foresees much higher use from the community and anticipate a more positive and safe environment.
“With this new field coming in there are already youth organizations that are really excited to get out there and use it to its full potential and we feel that with that positive environment that’s really going to change this park. Just increase the programing and change the outcome of the entire community around this park,” Farmer said.
