Bergeson Requests Study of Parks Need

Orange County Supervisor Marian Bergeson said Monday she wants a study to determine whether parks and recreational facilities are keeping pace in the fast-growing foothill communities.

“I’m very much concerned about the future, providing adequate parks,” Bergeson said. “Every effort has to be made to ensure long-term commitments to recreation.”

South County residents in Bergeson’s district are angered over a lack of youth sports fields and will urge the Board of Supervisors today to block plans to reduce a new park in Rancho Santa Margarita by more than 50%.

The Santa Margarita Co. won approval in March to scale back a 25-acre park to 12 acres in the Town Center since it was also slashing nearly in half the number of homes it planned to build in the area.

But many community residents and residents in neighboring communities are opposed because they say a shortage of sports fields in Rancho Santa Margarita and neighboring communities are forcing some youth sports leagues to put children on waiting lists.

“I don’t believe that Santa Margarita is responsible for supplying the entire area with parks for kids,” said Ron Greek, a resident of nearby Coto de Caza and a community activist who appealed the Planning Department’s decision to approve the park reduction.

“But I also don’t believe that we are adequately served with parks in this area,” Greek said.

Diane Gaynor, a spokeswoman for the Santa Margarita Co., said the developer has exceeded standards for supplying recreation facility and said the company is being asked to make up for the lack of parks in neighboring communities.

“Santa Margarita has done more than its fair share in providing recreational amenities,” said Gaynor, who said Rancho Santa Margarita has 20 permanent ball fields and two temporary fields. Twelve fields, however, are located on school grounds that are not always available for organized sports.

The dispute reflects a park shortage so severe it forces youth sports programs to put children on waiting lists.

“How do you tell a 7-year-old we don’t have the resources to let him or her play ball?” Greek said.