LAGUNA HILLS : Residents Vow Court Battle to Block Park

Nellie Gail Ranch residents opposed to a plan to build a park with baseball and soccer fields near their homes say they are prepared to wage a lengthy court battle if the City Council approves the project.

“We are going to sue the city if they continue on with this,” said Clarence Becwar, whose home is across the street from the proposed location of Rapid Falls Park. “We’ll lock them up in court.”

The City Council on Tuesday is scheduled to consider approval of the project’s final environmental impact report and bids for the park’s construction. If approved and built, the park would be the city’s first with sports fields.

Many Nellie Gail residents are opposed to the plan because they fear it will bring heavy traffic, noise and crime to their community.

According to the plan, the 8.7-acre parcel on Rapid Falls Road, west of Cabot Road, would have two Little League-size baseball diamonds with outfields that convert to soccer fields, a tot play area, a 960-square-foot storage and restroom building, a 200-square-foot storage building, a 90-space parking lot, bike racks, a hitching post and a water fountain. Existing equestrian trails would also be maintained.

The city staff is addressing neighbors’ concerns about traffic by recommending:

* “No Parking” signs be posted on Cabot Road next to the park (currently an unposted no-parking zone);

* Permit parking only on nearby Sundowner Drive, Lone Acres Lane and the north side of Rapid Falls Road;

* Prohibition of parking on the south side of Rapid Falls Road.

Also Tuesday, the council will consider awarding a construction contract to one of 10 bidders. Coast Landscape Construction submitted the lowest bid of $1.39 million.

Andrew Ulich, president of the Nellie Gail Ranch Homeowners Assn., said that while the association opposed an earlier city plan to put three baseball fields in the park, it has taken no position on the current proposal. Some Nellie Gail residents who do not live near the proposed location support the plan, Ulich said.

“Obviously the park will serve Nellie Gail residents and we are in need of parks,” Ulich aid. “But we hope a balance will be drawn on serving those needs while being sensitive to the concerns of the Nellie Gail residents.”

Becwar said the only balance he and his neighbors would accept would be to make the area a passive park, without recreation facilities or parking. Under the current plan, he said, the park “will become a gang staging area. . . . It’s going to lower the value of our property immediately.”

He also said he is concerned that the restroom facility would become a sleeping area for homeless people.

Becwar claims he and about 50 other homeowners have agreed to fight as long a court battle as it takes to stop the Rapid Falls Park plan.

“We have an unlimited supply of dollars that are going to go into this thing,” he said.