Op-Ed: Alameda Youth Sports Leaders Support Land Exchange

We are youth sports leaders in support of Alameda Youth Sports Foundation, a newly formed non-profit, who have been following closely all the events surrounding the Chuck Corica Golf Complex and the many improvements and upgrades proposed by Kemper Sports.

We have reviewed and are very excited with the Kemper Sports plans prepared by Knott & Linn Golf Design Group for the slightly re-configured Jack Clark South course and development of a new and improved MIF Albright Par 3. We have read with interest the peer review comments of Mr. John Harbottle III, ASGCA and other professionals who conclude that this new plan is a better and safer golf course design while still maintaining the experience of a Links style championship course and that the new MIF Albright will provide an enhanced golf experience for juniors, seniors and golfers of all skill levels.

We have read with enthusiasm the proposed improvements for the Earl Fry North course that will be phased over time and perform the much needed improvements while again still maintaining the beauty and charm of its Parkland type course setting as originally designed by golf architect William Bell. 

We understand that all the improvements will be phased in and the course will always be open for play. We understand that the current tournaments that are hosted, such as the Commuters, will still be accommodated. And furthermore ALL of these improvements will be funded from private dollars.

Further we have studied and reviewed the updated plans for a new Sports Field Complex, with all-weather surfaces and lighted fields to be located on North Loop Road and concluded that this development shows a superior design for the much-needed fields we are lacking today in Alameda. The plan includes an all-weather lighted Football and Soccer field with a seating capacity of 1,600, two soccer fields, a Little League/Adult Softball field, off street parking for 200 cars, and a concession stand and public facilities.

The amazing fact is that there will still be enough money to invest in a second sports complex at Alameda Point with additional lighted all-weather fields! So we are increasing the number of sports fields while enhancing them at the same time! AMAZING!! 

It is inconceivable that we are a city with over 73,000 citizens and do not have a single all weather lighted sports field complex for our sports groups.

We are hard pressed to understand why we are fighting. The way we see it is the Chuck Corica Golf Complex is going to receive upgrades and improvements to provide an enhanced golf experience, a new and improved MIF Albright Par 3 serving our juniors and seniors, and a renovated driving range. If all these benefits come as a part of a solution which also provides TWO much needed new sports field complexes on both ends of Alameda with all of this at no cost to the city, then why are we all fighting?

The opportunity to build two sports complexes from this land exchange is a win-win situation that we should all be supporting. The positives far exceed any potential negatives, and we may never see such an opportunity again. We MUST act now. Please click on this link and sign our petition which will be presented to the City Council on Tuesday, March 6.

For more background on Alameda Youth Sports Foundation and its proposed partnership with the City of Alameda to seize this opportunity to build and maintain new all-weather lighted fields on both ends of the island click on the PDF attached to this article above. 

Sincerely,

Steve Adams, Arlette Lee, Matt McFall, Ben Anderson, Wesley Mallette, Anthony Sanchez, Pat Bail, Randy Marmor, Scott Slez, Scott Lee, Ron Matthews, Junior Tautalatasi