TITLE
Recommendation to receive supporting documentation into the record, conclude the hearing, deny the appeal by Ann Cantrell, and support the decision of the Parks and Recreation Commission to authorize the development of a cricket ground in El Dorado Regional Park.
(District 5)
DISCUSSION
On May 15, 2008, the Parks and Recreation Commission authorized the development of a cricket ground in Area II of EI Dorado East Regional Park and authorized the Director of Parks, Recreation and Marine (Director) to execute a permit with the Southern California Cricket Association (SCCA) (Attachment #1 ).
On May 27, 2008, the City Clerk received and filed an appeal to this decision from Ann Cantrell (Attachment #2) for the following reasons:
· Gopher poisoning
· Grading of public park land to create a sports field
· Loss of public park open space for the exclusive use of a few people
· Parking · Spectator seating
· Permit term
· Noncompliance with the EI Dorado Park master plan
Backqround
Cricket has been an established team sport for hundreds of years and is thought to be the second most popular sport in the world, after football (soccer). More than 100 countries are affiliated with the International Cricket Council, cricket's international governing body. Cricket is fast becoming a popular sport in Southern California and, more particularly, here in Long Beach. The sport has been played in Long Beach since 2002, using the existing soccer field located in Marina Vista Park, but scheduling is often in conflict with other youth user groups.
SCCA requested inclusion into the parks and recreation program, along with the desire to assist in the development of a proper field on which to continue the sport, without hardship to any other user group. Area II, behind the Archery Range in EI Dorado East Regional Park, was identified and selected due to the availability of a large open area (Attachment #3).
Area II was already a developed turf area, complete wit...
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