May 15, 2008

Kick Off Time

City, SJUSD kick off Leland Sports Complex

Saturday, May 10 was the official opening day for the Leland Sports Complex. Who needs a ribbon and large scissors when you can perform a grand kick off. All those attending grabbed balls and officially “kicked off” the opening. Photo courtesy of Nancy Pyle’s office. Photo by Carol Rosen

By Carol Rosen
Editor

Last Saturday, a group of about 50 adults and children literally helped kick off the new sports complex at Leland High School.

After about 30 minutes of speeches from San Jose Unified School District officials like Superintendent Don Iglesias and Board Trustee and Vice President Leslie Reynolds, along with District 10 Councilmember Nancy Pyle, everyone in the group grabbed balls and kicked them down field.

The celebration marked the grand opening of two new artificial turf fields and a renovated stadium for Almaden Valley use, with nearby bathrooms and parking available. It also marked the first joint effort between the city and the school district to fund the new athletic fields.

The joint effort between the city and SJUSD funded and built the $5.8-million dollar complex with the district offering about $3.4 million from Measure F funds passed in 2002 and the city providing the remainder. The two also are working out maintenance arrangements, which likely will be split evenly between the two entities.

Spike (posing with District 10 Councilmember Nancy Pyle), the official mascot for Play Flag Football, which currently offers recreation leagues for children but plans to develop adult coed teams, nods to a question asked by local reporters. Like most mascots Spike was mute, but he apparently likes to play football and attends Leland High School.

“This is the original intention of school property,” said Cliff Mitchell, an assistant principal at the high school. “Schools are intended for community use, as well as for education.”

The need for Almaden Valley fields have been discussed for years, dating back to former Councilmember Pat Dando’s two terms. More recently, Pyle’s office and community members surveyed more than 40 properties, some weren’t big enough, others had too many neighbors or too much traffic or just weren’t good enough.

The need is palpable. Almaden Valley Youth Soccer continues to grow. Currently there are 1,000 kids playing spring soccer and that figure will more than double when fall leagues take over, so the need for fields continues to grow. Up to now, youth soccer teams have played at TJ Martin Park, with various restrictions, or at fields in neighboring areas due to the lack of fields in Almaden.

“Schools have land that wasn’t being used and it turned out to be a really ideal situation,” said Pyle. “This joint-use partnership with the San Jose Unified School District is the first of its type in the city and I know it won’t be the last. I am 100 percent committed to pursuing more collaborations, which allow us to keep our young people playing outside on these fields,” she said.

“It’s all about the kids,” said Iglesias. “Almaden Valley is a good place to grow. We have created a template with the city combining trust, collaboration and commitment to resources. We’re making sure the kids have all the help they need, and working together the district and the city offer double the horsepower.”

He added that the district has “26 miles of schools” and he hopes together the city and district can provide more such facilities.

After the kickoff, there were clinics for the kids. Above, 5-year-old Isaiah Ruiz plays catch with San Jose Giants pitcher Craig Whitaker and catcher Tyler LaTorre . Photo by Carol Rosen

The district will continue to use the fields during school hours, with PRNS taking over after school, during vacations and on weekends.

Besides Pyle and the district officials, a number of staff members from Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services were on hand for the kickoff. They were joined by a large number of youth soccer players, parents, neighbors and players from the San Jose Earthquakes, San Jose SaberCats, San Jose Giants, Play Flag Football and others holding clinics or just working out with the kids.

“We’re here for the community, we’re here for the kids,” said an Earthquakes player who asked not to be named. “This is a tremendous facility and its great to see collaboration between the school district and the city and what people can accomplish when they work together,” he said.