In this soccer saga, everybody wins

James McCarthy stands on the future site of two soccer fields that were planned with the community.

His field of dreams had turned into a battlefield.

In March of 2012, residents of northeast San Fernando Valley gathered to oppose plans for two new soccer fields at El Cariso Community Regional Park. It was a sudden and unexpected development during the final stretch of an $11.4 million park-wide renovation project. But James McCarthy didn’t panic. He’d been down this path before as a facilities planner for the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation.

“When you’re younger, it’s a surprise,” McCarthy said. “When you’ve done this for 25 years, you just hope it doesn’t happen on your project.”

The original plan required the removal of more than 70 eucalyptus trees, which drew the ire of homeowners, the local Chamber of Commerce and other members of the community. They were also concerned about parking, especially on weekends. The critics joined forces, organizing a meeting at Los Angeles Mission College last March. Emotions ran high, and the mood of the meeting quickly turned to anger. Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky’s office intervened, creating a community advisory group to meet regularly with county representatives to discuss alternatives.

Those sessions weren’t always a walk in the park. But four months later, last July, plans were finally approved by the group to relocate the soccer fields so only two trees would need to be removed.

“There was a lot of heated discussion at that first meeting and subsequent meetings,” said Irene Galvan, a 37-year Sylmar resident and one of the advisory group members who supported the original plan. “County staff listened and made modifications,” she said. “I think people were okay with it after that.”

Opponents of the initial plan, including Benjamin C. Williams, president of the Sylmar Homeowners Association, said they were converted during the inclusive process. He called the final product “perfect.”

“We are in harmony with the plans,” he said, “because we were a part of making them.”

This weekend, a long awaited groundbreaking ceremony for the fields will take place, representing the final gem in the remaking of El Cariso Park. Already completed are a renovation of the park’s swimming pool and a brand new 15,000-square-foot community center and gymnasium. A universal-access park modeled after Shane’s Inspiration in Griffith Park is expected to be completed sometime next spring, giving kids of all ability levels something to shout about.

As far as soccer goes, children from the community are getting a state-of-the-art upgrade from the makeshift dirt field where they now kick the ball around. One field, regulation-sized, will have an artificial playing surface, shaded bleachers and a concession stand. Beside it, a smaller, natural grass field will be built for pick-up games and youth leagues.

There’ll also be plenty of organized activity, said Sandra Chapman, who is responsible for programming at El Cariso Park. She plans to create two official leagues—one for youth and one for adults—along with a youth soccer clinic. Community groups and teams will also be able to reserve the fields, which also can be used for football games. It all adds up to a lot more work for Chapman, who’s hoping for a little help from her friends.

“The community is very connected to us, so where we need volunteers, we got ‘em,” Chapman said.

The fields should be ready for use by late next summer, said Sam Shadab, project manager for the county Department of Public Works. Shadab managed the other park improvements, too, and he said he has no doubt the public will fully embrace the fields when they’re built.

“I have been hearing a lot of praise about the gymnasium—people say it’s the best in the county,” said Shadab. “We are going to continue that tradition of success through this project.”

For McCarthy, who’s been overseeing all this, the fields represent the completion of more than a decade of work. “It’s a great relief,” he said. “Everything is new now. There is just a greater play opportunity across the board.”

Posted 8/15/13