School Officials Object to Park Site Proposals

City officials should sell a proposed park site on Hacienda Boulevard and move some youth league ballgames to a school playground, according to findings in a report recently presented to council members.

The findings, included in the City Council-commissioned report on the status of local parks, drew immediate criticism from school officials.

Lowell Joint School District Supt. Ronald T. Randolph told the City Council last week that his district sold a 5.2-acre property to the city so that it could be turned into a park.

“We would like to see a park in that area,” Randolph said.

Trustees of the La Habra City School District said they opposed moving baseball and softball leagues from Portola Park onto fields at Ladera Palma Elementary and another park, citing a lack of playground space for children.

Other recommendations in the report included plans to make parks more accessible to the disabled and to improve maintenance and security lighting.

City Council members said that the report is not yet final and that they will meet with school officials to discuss the recommendations.

The report will be used eventually to prepare a master plan to guide use of the city’s parks and recreation facilities and programs.

“This study is the first step,” Councilman Steven C. Anderson said.