TITLE
Recommendation to receive and approve to name the Pony-Colt field at Heartwell Park in honor of Al Weiner by naming the field "Al Weiner Ballpark."
DISCUSSION
BACKGROUND
The Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine received a letter (attached) from Mr. Toby Hess, President of Heartwell Pony-Colt Baseball League, requesting that the field located at their complex in Heartwell Park be named "AI Weiner Ballpark" in honor of the league's patriarch, AI Weiner. This year, the league will be celebrating their 50th anniversary of providing a meaningful experience to teenagers (ages 13-16) in the greater Long Beach community. According to the league, no one is more responsible for the long-term success of the league than AI Weiner.
The Administrative Regulations AR 8-7 applies to the naming of all public land, buildings, and facilities. AR 8-7 provides several policies to guide the consideration of a naming request. The following are those policies:
· The name should incorporate Long Beach whenever important for civic recognition or
identification;
· A name in honor of a recognized geographic area, a topographic feature or a historically
significant event may be appropriate;
· A name in honor of person or families who have donated the land or a substantial portion of
the improvement costs may be appropriate when applicable;
· A name in honor of a person or persons who have served the Nation, the State of California,
and/or the City of Long Beach in an exceptional or distinguished manner may be appropriate if
warranted by service of major significance;
· A name in honor of a living person, or of a deceased person within one year of their death, is not
appropriate unless the significance of that person's contribution is worthy of an exception to the
policy;
· A name in honor of a person is not appropriate when a name in honor of another person has
been given to the same site, building or facility in the past;
· A name in honor of a person is not appropriate if that person has been overly recognized in the
past; and
· A name may be selected through a competition or contest.
Even though Mr. Weiner is still active with the league, naming the field in his honor seems appropriate because of the special 50th anniversary of the league and the longterm leadership of AI Weiner to the league and the youth sports community. The obvious achievement of AI Weiner to the league and to youth sports warrants an exception to AR 8-7 to name this field in Heartwell Park, on this special occasion, in his honor.
On January 17, 2008, the Parks and Recreation Commission concurred by recommending to the City Council that AI Weiner Ballpark is an appropriate name for the Pony-Colt Field at Heartwell Park.
DISCUSSION
In 1981, the inaugural year of the McDonalds/Lakewood Youth Sports Hall of Fame, AI Weiner was inducted for his lifetime contributions as a coach in youth sports. He has remained a volunteer coach every year since then. A local youth sports icon, there is no name or face more synonymous with the Heartwell Pony-Colt Baseball League. So enamored with the health and success of the league and its facilities was Coach Weiner that three years ago he purchased a home across the street from the field on Parkcrest Street so that he could serve as head caretaker and watchdog for the field in his retirement. A long-time patron of many youth sports endeavors, he single-handedly financed the construction of a grass infield on the baseball diamond and remote control Sunscreens over the bleachers. His generosity is only surpassed by his commitment to the children in this community. He has been coaching in the Greater Long Beach area for almost 40 years, including 35 years as a volunteer for the Heartwell Pony-Colt League.
It is not unusual to name a facility in a park with a separate name from the name of the park. The best-known example in Long Beach is probably Blair Field in Recreation Park. Other more recent examples include Darren Erstad Field at Silverado Park and Tim Salmon Plaza at Stearns Champions Park. Thus, this is not expected to cause any confusion or take away from the honor of naming the park Heartwell Park.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
Gerrie Schipske
Councilwoman, Fifth District
Attachment: Letter from Heartwell Pony-Colt Baseball League