As we get settled into the 2023-24 school year, the opportunity to get back into the normal fall routine has allowed me to re-open discussions related to improving sports fields in Moraga. I’ve recently met with Moraga school district Superindendent Julie Parks for both an informational meeting as well as site visits at Los Perales and Rheem elementary schools. The discussions have revolved around finding ways to collaborate in an effort to improve facilities, better utilize current resources, and create or expand outdoor sports/fitness opportunities for local children.
Julie, who was the principal at Miramonte High School for 7 years, has been the Superintendent for Moraga School District since the fall of 2021. She has been more than willing to engage in discussions related to field usage, improvements, and opportunities to benefit the children and families within the school district. More info about Julie can be found in this Lamorinda Weekly article here.
With Ballplayer Field being a temporarily permitted use that is subject to the Moraga Center Specific Plan implementation project, I’ve been working hard to find a suitable alternative to the amazing resource that Ballplayer Field has become. I’ve been very clearly told that the field needs to go away since it doesn’t fit in the Town’s vision for the Moraga Center. Only mixed-use and high density residential projects will be approved in the current shopping center location, so Ballplayer Field’s days are numbered. For now, I won’t belabor the details surrounding the field, but will rather focus on ‘what’s next’.
Across the 4 school district sites (JM, Camino Pablo, Rheem and Los Perales), there are several factors in play:
School uses: Recess, lunch time activities, after school sports or childcare programs
Local sports club and program use: Primarily by MOL football, MBA baseball, and LMYA soccer, baseball and softball
Maintenance: Costs and labor associated with cutting grass, watering, weed abatement and general maintenance.
Potential Future Improvements: Larger scale updates and improvements that would likely come from a Bond measure if approved by the residents of the town.
Looking at each school site, there are lots of potential ideas and opportunities for improvements/renovations/more efficient uses. But each idea needs to be vetted against the 4 factors above to determine feasibility. JM has the largest field space, but also has the highest use and would cost the most to make large scale improvements. CP had a renovation project in 2011, but is showing its age and could use a refresh. Rheem has a nice open field and newer solar panels near the blacktop, but is used for some youth soccer and baseball and not much else. LP has had limited updates in the last 30 years and is under-utilized for several reasons.
My discussions with Julie come from the perspective of a local parent and small business owner who’s invested in providing opportunities for children in the community. So I’m constantly trying to balance ‘what’s best for the community’ with ‘what’s best for the business’ and find ways to marry the two for mutual benefit. In my opinion, there are lots of positives that come from a private entity (Ballplayers) establishing a sustainable business model that also benefits students and the community. How we do this, while layering in a partnership and collaboration with a public school district is where several interesting concerns and challenges and possibilities lie.
Ultimately with regards to fields, the biggest priorities for the school district seem to be 1) to provide safe and usable facilities, 2) to enhance or increase outdoor fitness, sports and socialization opportunities, and 3) to balance resources and spending on maintenance needs. If Ballplayers can figure out a way to enhance any, or all, of these areas without any potential drawbacks, then that’s exactly what we’d like to do. Stay tuned as we continue engaging and exploring ideas to partner with the district on a long term viable plan.