LAKE FOREST ? Residents and local government officials kicked off the groundbreaking of the city's new sports park on Tuesday evening with a jubilant rendition of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game."
"Is there anyone excited about the park?" Mayor Kathryn McCullough yelled into a microphone, addressing the 200 or so people who turned out for the event.
State, county and Lake Forest city officials including from left Mayor Pro Tem Scott Voigts, Assemblyman Don Wagner, councilman, Mark Tettemer, councilman Peter Herzog, Mayor Kathryn McCullough, and Supervisor Patricia Bates, dig up a shovelful of dirt during Tuesday's groundbreaking for the long-awaited sports park that is being built on Rancho Parkway between Lake Forest and Portola.
PAUL RODRIGUEZ, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
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McCullough recalled the city's past, its lack of roads and streetlights, and highlighted the importance of the new sports park to the city's future. She and several others officials then took shovels to dirt at what will be $38 million park's main entry on Rancho Parkway at the city's north end.
The groundbreaking coincided with a ribbon cutting for an 1,800-foot extension of Rancho. The extension, which closes a gap between Lake Forest Drive and Portola Parkway, will provide an alternative for thousands of motorists trying to reach the 241 toll road.
"I'm happy, big-time," said resident Rick Lancaster, adding his nearby neighborhood has had lots of cut-through traffic. "This will make a huge difference."
Rough grading for the park has begun, and next week the City Council is expected to approve construction bids for ball fields, a gymnasium and a community center. Construction of sports fields, ball courts, playgrounds and the recreation center should begin by summer.
The plan for the park, which is on 86 acres near Portola and El Toro, includes five baseball diamonds, two basketball courts, five soccer fields, two playgrounds, restrooms and concession areas, and trail connections to nearby Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park. The sports fields will help meet demand by city sports groups.
Sydney Fice of Portola Hills is itching to kick a soccer ball on some new turf. Now she practices four to five hours a week, but some of the fields she plays on are lumpy and pitted, she said.
"I'm excited that when it's all done, I can have lots of fun here," the 9-year-old said. "I'll be able to practice soccer and running here."
It will also be a place for her siblings to play soccer, lacrosse and track, said her father, Bill Fice.
He coaches AYSO and he said Region 85, which includes Lake Forest, has more than 1,800 players, more than some entire states.
"This (park) will allow Lake Forest to host more sports events here (rather) than having to travel outside the area," he said.
Contact the writer: 949-454-7307 or eritchie@ocregister.com or twitter.com/lagunaini
Source: http://www.ocregister.com/news/park-374116-sports-city.html
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