San Pedro Little League is striking out on new fields

formerly really wrote:

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That depends- is EVLL going to accept a compromise? Will they settle for a parcel that doesn't have power for their hot dog cooker? Because that was made available to them and they turned it down before. Now- who knows if it's still open, after they tossed it back in the faces of the people who arranged it for them?

Please explain what you are talking about? What parcel was available as you say and turned down? Are you talking about Navy land?

Pedro Reader wrote:

<quoted text>Where is friendship park? Do you mean BOGDANOVICH PARK? If that is what you ment to say they have 2 fields and run their own youth basball program with around 300 kids from ages 5-16...so no that is not an opption..

First of all, most everybody I know still calls the park "Friendship Park". There are even still some signs up calling it "Friendship Park". "Where is friendship park" is a really stupid question. You know perfectly well which park I was referring to.

The fields are used for more than youth baseball. I was there last week and there was a coed softball game being played.

A San Pedro Little League team involves only ONE team. It is not a bunch of teams. They would only need to use the field for their home games and they could practice during the many times I have seen the fields deserted. Surely there could be room on the schedule at Friendship Park to fit in games for San Pedro's Little League team.

Friendship Park might not be an "opption" like you are saying, but it certainly could be an option.

Friendship Park wrote:

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First of all, most everybody I know still calls the park "Friendship Park". There are even still some signs up calling it "Friendship Park". "Where is friendship park" is a really stupid question. You know perfectly well which park I was referring to.
The fields are used for more than youth baseball. I was there last week and there was a coed softball game being played.
A San Pedro Little League team involves only ONE team. It is not a bunch of teams. They would only need to use the field for their home games and they could practice during the many times I have seen the fields deserted. Surely there could be room on the schedule at Friendship Park to fit in games for San Pedro's Little League team.
Friendship Park might not be an "opption" like you are saying, but it certainly could be an option.

EVLL has kids divided into age groups, so it's not really one team. However, the folks at Peck Park also offered to work EVLL into their field rotation schedule. There is more than one baseball field in town. EVLL acts like it's the end of youth sports if they don't get their own fields for their exclusive use, but it isn't. If they are willing to share, there can be room made for their games.

Wow wrote:

I just happened across this forum today and I'm amazed at how many people comment on Eastview. As a new Eastview board member it can be a little painful to read some of the comments. Lets not forget we are talking about playing fields for boys and girls, ages 4-12. Some of the people commenting on the forum are misinformed and others seem like they just want to argue about what happened in the past. I think that most adults who have children will side with a youth organization. Adults who never had kids or never had kids in organized sports will side with open part supporters. My opinion is that open park space at KH would attract the homeless and drug addicts. If it wasn't for the family that lives up there our fields would be trashed, our walls full of graffiti, our dumpster full of trash from gardeners and contractors, and our parking lot full of kids smoking weed in their cars. The only reason our fields are working out is the Hernandez family. They keep watch over our fields 24-7.
Lastly, lets keep block field out of it. John Delgado is doing his best to get that fields back to where it used to be. I would love to drive by block filed and see kids playing baseball instead of weeds and graffiti.

As a new EVLL board member, maybe you can persuade them to pursue another option- spaces in RPV like Eastview park. Heck, it already has the right name. RPV has a lot more open space.

formerly really wrote:

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As a new EVLL board member, maybe you can persuade them to pursue another option- spaces in RPV like Eastview park. Heck, it already has the right name. RPV has a lot more open space.

Eastview Park would be great. Only one problem, neighbors don't want to hear the sound of kids at play. What I consider music to my ears is consider sound pollution to others. They made that real clear when AYSO was trying to secure the spot for soccer fields.

I don't think anyone understands the pure number of kids we are talking about compared to other leagues. We have 650+ kids in our Little League division (4-12 year old) and another 50+ in our Jr. division (13+ year olds). That's more than ALL other baseball organizations combined. Peck and Friendship cannot support those numbers. At this time, with three fields, we play every day, and all weekend during regular baseball season. Saturday we play until dark and Sunday we stop at around 3. That doesn't even include practice field time which is squeezed in if games are finished early. Also, we have very strict guidelines as far as when we can play and when we must finish our season. Unless you live in a cave, I'm sure you've heard of the little league world series. Unlike Major league baseball this is truly a WORLD series. Baseball teams from around the work must qualify to make it to the tournament. So, when we say that Eastview is the only Little League in San Pedro its true. Some people use the term Little League as a generic term for any baseball league. Block field teams, Peck Park teams, and Friendship park teams cannot enter into this tournament. That's the huge misunderstanding. Last year there were 7,170 little leagues around the world with 2,534,580 boys and girls playing. I cant imagine 7,169 cities being more Little League friendly than San Pedro.

I personally think that a better solution would have been 22nd street since its a lot bigger than KH. There is no reason why 5-10% of that huge space cant be used by Eastview and Block field for baseball. Once Block field becomes a success, which I hope is soon, they will need more space as well. Also, the backstops could be used for adult and girls softball leagues and regular pick-up games during the off season.

Where exactly in RPV do you know of open space that could fit a couple baseball fields? We are willing to look into anything. I could have someone from the league look into it ASAP. I could make that happen tomorrow.

Try again. Just because AYSO failed doesn't mean you will. Lean on the RPV council. A lot of your families live in RPV. You have nothing to lose by trying.
EVLL pushed really hard to get on Knoll Hill- now that your time is almost up you want to roll over and say it's just too hard? Knoll Hill was supposed to be a park for everybody, not just league baseball. Look at the schedule you just posted that explains why you can't share fields- that means you can't share any part of Knoll Hill (including the fields) because your game activities and parking will be monopolizing it. Is that fair to everyone else?
You have the same problem at 22nd street that you have at Knoll Hill- Tidelands. AND you guys didn't even ask for a spot until the EIR for that park was well underway, which would have meant throwing away the tens of thousands of dollars spent on the EIR just so you can have free fields. Can't you guys look at property that isn't waterfront and Port owned?
And stop trying to guilt us with the "I can't imagine other towns are more little league friendly." Frankly, I have a hard time imagining that you guys seem to think you are entitled to everything you want just because you want your kids to play in the world series of LL baseball. BTW, you might help yourselves gain more community support if you could manage to refrain from casting aspersions on this part of town and everyone who lives here. Because, in case you missed it, saying "If EVLL isn't on Knoll Hill it will be nothing but drug dealers" is doing just that. Gee, thanks Mister Baseball for saving us from our park. Why, without you hill folk to come down here with your wholesome superiority, a green space for us to play in will just descend into iniquity and dissolution.
You guys talk big about how LL provides such a great role model for kids- how about proving that and honoring your commitments? Get off Knoll Hill when your lease is up like your board swore up and down it would. Your board promised it would not get in the way of the new park. Keep your word.

Maybe 40 kids in our league lived in RPV last year. Some are siblings so lets say 35 families. Its ok for us to lean on RPV when most of our kids live in San Pedro? Now that's funny!

I have an idea. Since you seem so sure that KH is a great place to visit. I have a question for you. Before ELL was there, when was the last time you were up there after dark? Don't lie now. God is listening. How about this... Lets go hang out in front of the Post office on Beacon tonight. Just you and me. You better know I'm hiding behind you if someone walks by us.:) Don't worry about it. I already know the answers.

You want to know something. I used to love walking down town in SP when I was a kid. My parents shopped in the local stores and we never went above Gaffey. My grandparents came from the old country and didn't drive so living below Pacific was essential. I've watched crime completely ruin this city. I'm happy that people like yourself have stepped up to try and do what they feel is good for SP. A step in any direction besides backwards is good in my book. We may not agree on Eastview but I support anyone who is working towards a better place to live for all of us. Not like it really matters what you or I think. Powers that be will do whatever they want to KH. By the way, "hill folk" was funny. I wished I lived up on the hill.

Wow wrote:

Maybe 40 kids in our league lived in RPV last year. Some are siblings so lets say 35 families. Its ok for us to lean on RPV when most of our kids live in San Pedro? Now that's funny!
I have an idea. Since you seem so sure that KH is a great place to visit. I have a question for you. Before ELL was there, when was the last time you were up there after dark? Don't lie now. God is listening. How about this... Lets go hang out in front of the Post office on Beacon tonight. Just you and me. You better know I'm hiding behind you if someone walks by us.:) Don't worry about it. I already know the answers.
You want to know something. I used to love walking down town in SP when I was a kid. My parents shopped in the local stores and we never went above Gaffey. My grandparents came from the old country and didn't drive so living below Pacific was essential. I've watched crime completely ruin this city. I'm happy that people like yourself have stepped up to try and do what they feel is good for SP. A step in any direction besides backwards is good in my book. We may not agree on Eastview but I support anyone who is working towards a better place to live for all of us. Not like it really matters what you or I think. Powers that be will do whatever they want to KH. By the way, "hill folk" was funny. I wished I lived up on the hill.

If you are hiding from someone walking past the post office you are hiding from me and my many law abiding neighbors with children. We all walk to the shop and restaurants downtown- that's the advantage of living close by. It's not a war zone, for cripes sake.

EVLL didn't change the character of the hill by virtue of being a Little League. The character of the hill was changed because it was being used. Are you suggesting that every minute it's not occupied by a baseball game that criminals run rampant? Don't you think that's overstating the case just a tiny bit? Don't you think it's possible that some other use might also be beneficial to the neighborhood? Baseball isn't a magic elixir.

How many of the families in your league live East of Gaffey, if that's the criterion? Why can't you go to RPV? What do you have to lose- fields you don't have now?

I also notice you completely ignored the fact that EVLL made a promise and signed a contract. Is keeping your word no longer respected as an important virtue? Is teaching your kids to get what they want no matter what or who they have to step on the better lesson?

Wow wrote:

Maybe 40 kids in our league lived in RPV last year. Some are siblings so lets say 35 families. Its ok for us to lean on RPV when most of our kids live in San Pedro? Now that's funny!
I have an idea. Since you seem so sure that KH is a great place to visit. I have a question for you. Before ELL was there, when was the last time you were up there after dark? Don't lie now. God is listening. How about this... Lets go hang out in front of the Post office on Beacon tonight. Just you and me. You better know I'm hiding behind you if someone walks by us.:) Don't worry about it. I already know the answers.
You want to know something. I used to love walking down town in SP when I was a kid. My parents shopped in the local stores and we never went above Gaffey. My grandparents came from the old country and didn't drive so living below Pacific was essential. I've watched crime completely ruin this city. I'm happy that people like yourself have stepped up to try and do what they feel is good for SP. A step in any direction besides backwards is good in my book. We may not agree on Eastview but I support anyone who is working towards a better place to live for all of us. Not like it really matters what you or I think. Powers that be will do whatever they want to KH. By the way, "hill folk" was funny. I wished I lived up on the hill.

By the way, continuing to insult the area of town where you want to gain community support is probably not the best idea in the world.

At this point, start looking to pair up with another little league, similar to the Pop Warner Tri-city team. If not, you'll have to put your energies into the S.P. park leagues. It's a shame the 22nd street location can't be used. Good luck and I hope something can be worked out with the Port of L.A. with such a beautiful site to play.

Free Stuff aint Free wrote:

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Oh stop you two jabberjaws! There isn't going to be any active organized play at white point. The conservancy has much better organizationa and political connections than any local baseball group. FUGGADABOUTIT!!!

I am sorry, it looks wasted. It was more fun when you had to climb through the fence. Screw the stupid butterflies and dirty hippies that want "the nature". Build the fields, or use the Ponte Vista area to do that

Letting People Know wrote:

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I am sorry, it looks wasted. It was more fun when you had to climb through the fence. Screw the stupid butterflies and dirty hippies that want "the nature". Build the fields, or use the Ponte Vista area to do that

Aint gonnahappen sweet heart!!! The park is finished and ev will probably fade away because the so called adults can't compromise or plan. Too bad.
BTW the park will probably cause everyone equal heartburn: Lots of nature bu no tables or benches and no sports. A compromise is a solution that everyone dislikes equally I guess.
And so it goes....