Golf Range Planned for Berry Fields

Strawberry fields are not forever at Cerritos College in Norwalk and plans to convert a 17-acre patch on the campus into a golf driving range are, for some members of the community, absolutely something “to get hung about.”

Despite concerns expressed by neighbors about safety, increased traffic and pollution, board members last week directed administrators to draft a proposal for review by the trustees. If approved, the college will open bidding to lease the land and replace the fields with a state-of-the-art driving range, pro shop and putting green.

At the same time, in response to community fears, the board directed administrators to draft a second proposal exploring all possible uses for the land located at the west end of campus in the city of Cerritos.

For several years the college has been considering other revenue-generating uses for the fields, which encompass about 10% of the campus and are now leased to a strawberry grower for $28,500 a year. Preliminary studies, however, have indicated that a driving range could bring in about $200,000 a year.

Some board members question whether that figure is the most the college can expect to earn on land valued at up to $10 million. Yet board members, although not fully committed to a driving range and still open to other options, do agree that the land should not be sold.

Cerritos College President Fred Gaskin said the school has a responsibility to maximize the land value.