Two Fields May Finally Be Able to See the Light

Pending final City Council approval, Birmingham High will receive $110,481 to purchase lights for its baseball field and El Camino Real will get $185,504 to buy lights for its football stadium, Councilwoman Laura Chick said Friday.

The funds would come from Proposition K, a 1996 tax assessment measure that allocates public money to improve parks and recreation facilities in Los Angeles.

“I’m very optimistic and hopeful,” Chick said. The projects have received preliminary approval from the City Council but must still pass an environmental assessment review. A final decision is expected in June.

Chick said the lack of playing facilities in the West Valley makes both projects important because adding lights is a cost-effective way to increase use of the fields.

Lights for Birmingham’s baseball field would provide City Section schools with their first facility to hold night games. Birmingham Athletic Director Lou Ramirez said the facility would be available to other schools.

Ramirez said the school has been seeking funding for lights since 1980. He said night games would enable more parents to attend because of daytime work commitments. Birmingham also could become a host for night playoff games.

“It would be great for high school baseball,” Birmingham baseball Coach Rick Weber said. “For example, El Camino Real-Chatsworth could use it for a game of the week.”

Crescenta Valley, which plays at Stengel Field in Glendale, and Burbank Burroughs are the only high schools in the region that can host night baseball games.

El Camino Real, which opened in 1969, has been forced to play night home football games at Canoga Park, Taft and Pierce College.

If approved by July 1, school officials hope to have the lights in place for the start of the football season.