Proposed soccer field hopes to satisfy both teams and residents

Nick Squires
Staff Writer

The proposal for City College’s new soccer field on Ocean Campus is nearing completion, pending the presentation of the field’s amended plan that takes into consideration the concerns of a local community group.

The field, approved four years ago by the board of trustees in the college’s Master Plan, will be located at the northeast corner of the Ocean campus, east of Batmale Hall.

“This is a big step forward from what we’ve had,” said Men’s Soccer Head Coach Adam Lucarelli. “The planning commission has been helpful in listening to our concerns, and tells us this will be a permanent fixture. The rest of the team and I are excited to not take vans to three different places to practice.”

The field’s proposal was met with questions from the local Sunnyside Neighborhood Association.

“Our main concerns are added traffic, parking, and noise,” SNA member Chris Coghlan said. “We’re looking for limited hours of operation: Monday through Friday for daytime use, Saturday mornings and closed Sunday.”

At almost 8,800 square yards, the proposed field will be four-fifths the size of the old soccer field, which was removed when the Ocean campus Community Health and Wellness Center was built.

“The practice field will be large enough to play an official NCAA soccer game, and accommodate City College students,” said James Blomquist, associate vice chancellor of facilities planning / management.

According to Interim Chancellor Dr. Don Griffin, the new field will not be open to the public. As part of the agreement with the SNA, the field will not be used by other soccer leagues, nor will bleachers or lights be installed. The proposal also includes a new ADA compliant twelve-foot walkway for pedestrian traffic, while emergency vehicles will retain their Ocean and Havelock points of entry.

“We’ve made major changes in the original plan after meeting with the SNA, Facilities Review Committee and City College community,” said Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration Peter Goldstein. “The proposal will not remove the hillside; it will protect the trees currently planted and include 100 additional trees to be planted.”