MISSION VIEJO : Roller Hockey Court Project Put on Hold

In response to a protest from residents, the Saddleback Valley Unified School District will delay building a roller hockey court at Los Alisos Intermediate School for a year and explore alternative sites.

Residents next to the school had protested a plan by the district’s recreation department to convert one of two tennis courts on the campus into a roller hockey rink, complete with bleachers and a portable toilet.

The residents said roller hockey games would create noise, traffic and parking problems in their neighborhood.

The proposed roller hockey court borders five homes on Oak Glen Avenue and another two on Elm Court, although residents say sounds from the courts carry farther into the neighborhood.

News of the delay was welcomed Thursday.

“This is a real relief,” said Catherine Ortiz, whose back-yard fence is 29 feet from the court area. “The summer is just starting. Now we’ll be able to be in our back yard, with barbecues and company, with no fear of porta-potties at our fence.”

About 80 neighborhood residents earlier signed a petition opposing construction of the court at the school.

“There’s nothing wrong with the hockey,” said Ora Adams, whose home of 23 years is next to the school. “It’s a great outlet; it’s better than having it on the streets. But for them to . . . put a court 29 feet from someone’s house. . . .”

Adams said she too is pleased with the “reprieve” and that the district “responded to our concerns.”

Saddleback recreation director Tim Phelps said an extra court is needed to accommodate the district’s growing, year-round youth roller hockey league, which this summer season involves more than 450 players ages 6 through 17.

There are now two roller hockey rinks at La Paz Intermediate School used for league games, which are generally held on Sundays.

But after listening to residents during a meeting Wednesday night, Phelps said, district officials decided Thursday to put the plan on hold and explore other sites.

“We want to make sure what we’re doing is right,” Phelps said. “We will try to explore every other alternative.”

Funds for the estimated $20,000 court project would have come from fees players are charged to participate in the league, Phelps said.

Even before the residents learned of the plans for the court in late June, they had been complaining about noise caused by unorganized groups practicing roller hockey on the Los Alisos tennis courts.