Diamond Bar Parks and Recreation Commission to Discuss Funding Fields

The Diamond Bar Parks and Recreation Commission will be looking into a call to study funding options for athletic field improvements at its Thursday night meeting.

Commissioner Lew Herndon said that the city has had a shortage of sports fields for youth sports organizations for years. Despite the lack of space, there is no shortage of participants, he said.

"Each year thousands of kids turn out to play sports for organizations like Pop Warner Football, American Youth Soccer Organization, Pony League Baseball, Diamond Bar Soccer League, Diamond Bar Girls Softball, and many other such groups including Diamond Bar City sponsored leagues," he said.

The two projects to be discussed include the following, according to the staff report:

1. Lorbeer Middle School (Middle Field) -- Create a lighted sports complex by adding two lighted baseball/softball fields with a soccer/football field overlay, plus improve parking & accessibility.

Estimated Cost: $1.5 million

2. South Pointe Middle School -- Create a lighted soccer/football and baseball/softball complex with three U1 recreation building with restrooms, storage and concession stand. 

Estimated Cost: $3.5 million

Funding for the two projects has not been identified, according to staff.

This week's discussion on funding for fields comes at a time when the city is in the process of selling its portion of the Site D project. Diamond Bar has a small sliver of the 30-acre site, with the Walnut Valley Unified School District owning 28 acres, but could receive around $1.8 million from the sale of the property, officials have said.

Herndon, as part of the Diamond Bar Community Foundation, has been lobbying for the city to use the proceeds from the sale to increase the number of fields. A petition signed by 1,700 residents has been submitted to the city.

Also to be discussed Thursday is a proposed agreement with Diamond Bar Pony Baseball to rent its facility on Sunset Crossing to other youth sports organizations.

Staff is expected not to recommend it, citing liability issues, according to a memo Community Services Director Bob Rose wrote to the commissioners.

The Diamond Bar Parks and Recreation Commission meets at 7 p.m. Thursday at City Hall, 21810 Copley Drive.