GGPNC Adopts Resolution to Support Griffith Park Ballfields ? Los ...

By Norma Zager, Ledger Contributing Writer

GRIFFITH PARK?The Greater Griffith Park Neighborhood Council (GGPNC) has unanimously adopted a resolution to support the construction of two youth baseball fields in Griffith Park.

According to Mark Mauceri, GGPNC Sports and Recreation Committee Chair, the fields would be funded by Prop. K ?LA FOR Kids,? which earmarks funds for recreation and parks to help ?combat the inadequacies and decay of the city?s youth infrastructure,? according to Prop. K wording.

The idea of new Griffith Park baseball fields was initiated Los Angeles City Councilmember Tom LaBonge. Griffith Park is in LaBonge?s city council district 4.

Los Feliz resident and mother of five, Erica Yoder Chapman spoke at the GGPNC?s Jan. 17th meeting?prior to the council?s vote?in favor of the two new ball fields.

?As a past president of the Los Feliz Mom?s club, I can tell you there are so many of us who want this field. We really need more recreation and playgrounds here in the neighborhood, not across town. I can bring you as many people as you want to stand in this room and support the project,? Chapman said.

Joe Young, chairman of the GGPNC?s Parks, Rivers and Open Space (PROS) committee, spoke against the vote saying the GGPNC?s PROS committee didn?t have adequate time to evaluate the city?s proposal.

The construction of the 5 Freeway destroyed the previous Griffith Park ball fields in the late 1950s.

In the Sports and Recreation committee?s resolution, they cited inadequacies of Los Feliz?s youth recreational facilities and the influx of local families with children.

?We have no city-staffed recreation center,? Mauceri said. ?There are no public basketball courts in all Los Feliz? and that?s just wrong.? Golf and tennis we have in spades, but we need to do better in the more traditional ?stick and ball? sports, and this Prop. K plan is a chance to at least bring little league back, we certainly have the kids for it.?I have three.?

Mauceri also stressed Griffith Park?s deficiency of ball fields when compared to other Los Angeles city parks that are only a fraction of the size.

?Why L.A.?s largest public park doesn?t have a little league field is just beyond me.? We have the chance to put back what the 5 Freeway wiped out.? Area parents shouldn?t have to drive to the Valley so their kids can play sports,? he said.

A Los Angeles City Bureau of Engineering exploratory plan, presented at the meeting, showed two adjacent ball fields that could be incorporated into the park?s Crystal Springs area.

?This will be a long process, and I have no doubt there will be staunch opposition to these fields from park advocate groups who would rather have the whole of the park be designated an ?urban wilderness,?? said Mauceri.??But it?s a big park and there?s room for some kids? ball fields? Sometimes we all have step back and see the forest through trees. . . if we really do what?s right by the neighborhood.?

For more information, please visit: www.ggpnc.org/go/recreation

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This entry was posted on Thursday, February 2nd, 2012 at 7:00 am and is filed under Front Page, Lead Cover Story. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

Source: http://www.losfelizledger.com/2012/02/ggpnc-adopts-resolution-to-support-griffith-park-ballfields/

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