Sports Center Dedicated in Castaic

Ashlei Yatron wasn’t paying much attention as the VIP speakers described how the new recreation center here was funded with bond funds and developer fees.

All the 10-year-old knew was that beginning Wednesday, she was able to ask her mom to bring her to Castaic’s new park to play baseball or practice gymnastics.

“There is a small park behind my house, but all of the slides are made of metal and get very hot with the sun,” Ashlei said. “This is a pretty park.”

Enthusiasm from kids like Ashlei was what officials were hoping for Wednesday with the dedication ceremony of the Castaic Regional Sports Complex on North Castaic Road. It took the Castaic community many years, but the hard work paid off, said Jeff Wheeler, the assistant director of Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation North Agency.

About 100 people attended the ceremony, with county and park officials sharing their enthusiasm for the new facility.

The 14,500-square-foot building includes a gymnasium, community rooms, a kitchen, locker rooms and showers, restrooms and a lobby. Outside there is a multipurpose court with lighting for baseball or volleyball and a jogging course. Younger children and toddlers have access to a play area, and their parents can enjoy the outdoors at the picnic areas and pathways.

“Just a few years ago there was nothing here, just undeveloped land,” said project architect Manoucher Eslami. “Three years can make a lot of difference. This is the only gym around in the north side of Castaic.

“This is for the children,” he added.

In 1993 the 15-acre site consisted of three ball fields, a parking lot and restrooms. Bond issues and developer fees helped finance the $3.4-million project, said Karen Grant, the county’s regional recreation director.

“We wanted something people in this community would be able to use,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich. “People who built it were not going to use it. We wanted to meet the needs of the community.”

Grant said seeing the gym finally completed feels like “if a dream had come true,” she said.

“This is the first of three gyms we plan to build in our north agency,” Grant said. “For now, this our only one.”

Some Castaic parents said they were glad to finally have a place where they can coach their children to play baseball or other sports.

“People in Santa Clarita have access to all sorts of programs,” said Lisa Gipti, 36. “Hopefully, we will be able to have many activities here at this site.”