Page One

Editor, 

It’s really sad that L.A. Woods’ article in Tuesday’s Planet makes it clear he hasn’t seen the transformation that has happened as a result of city’s investment in 5th and Harrison. Nor does he really let the reader know why fields were built at 5th and Harrison rather than the Corporation Yard. Let’s get past the rhetoric. 

The reason why the Corporation Yard remains where it is has do to with money, not soccer moms and dads. It was estimated 10 years ago that moving the corporation yard would cost in the neighborhood of $20 million dollars. 

If the city had the political will and administrative desire to build a new facility they could have done this down at the old Colgate plant when it was available. They can still do this by purchasing the 8.5-acre American Soil property (which is twice the size of the Harrison parcel) just down the street from the current corporation yard. 

5th and Harrison was chosen over the Corporation Yard for several reasons. First, and most importantly, 5th and Harrison was vacant land. 

Putting fields at the Corporation Yard meant getting the council to agree to spend the $20 million to move the Corporation Yard before they could even consider fields. This is something they hadn't been willing to do years before playing fields were ever proposed for the Harrison site. Are soccer moms and dads and city staff to blame for recognizing that moving the corporation yard was not something high on the council’s agenda? 

Second, the city had and still had a pressing need for field space. When the fields at Harrison were opened up at a community meeting, every single available slot was booked within a half an hour and there are still waiting lists for field slots. It took almost five years of community process to get the Harrison parcel developed. It probably would have taken another five if moving the corporation yard had come first on the agenda. If L.A. Woods is angry that the corporation yard hasn't been moved, don’t put the blame on the backs of the people who helped expand much needed recreation space in this community. 

Third, having more lighted fields and available parking was a central element in determining sites. It was felt that because the 5th and Harrison site was in an industrial neighborhood the lighted fields would meet less resistance from the surrounding neighbors. Also field users would bring their cars at the same time the industrial users would be leaving work. So the problem of field users impacting neighborhood parking was much reduced. 

Fourth, the 5th and Harrison site was significantly larger than the Corporation Yard site and it was adjacent to two existing fields. The idea that city staff was breaking new ground by zoning or putting playing fields next to an industrial area is factually incorrect. 

L.A. Woods’ proposal that the fields and the Homeless Shelter complex would be an ideal combo at the Corporation Yard fails to recognize that this would result in a significant reduction in the amount of field space. Not to mention that the citizens of Berkeley have not exactly welcomed the expansion of shelters (homeless, AIDS, drug rehab, etc.) into their neighborhoods. 

Rather than railing at a decision that has delightfully transformed a neighborhood and provided much needed recreation space to the children and adults in our community, why doesn't L.A. Woods do something positive? Let him put his energy into trying to convince the City Council to spend the $20 million to acquire the American Soils property and spend another $20 million to build new public works facilities. Then he can raise another $10 million to move and expand the Harrison House facility on the old Corporation Yard. Makes Harrison look pretty cheap. 

Finally, I along with the 25,000 people who visit the Harrison Park facility each year, as well as a large number of the neighbors who surround the park, would like to thank city staff and city council members who had the common sense to recognize this important community need and put the money and the effort into helping to make Harrison Park a reality. 

Doug Fielding 

Association of Sports Field Users