Soccer fans have plenty to celebrate with dedication of Limoneira fields
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Published: December 10, 2008
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula Times
Local soccer fans have plenty to celebrate with the big win of new soccer fields in Limoneira’s East Area 1 on December 2, where company President/CEO Harold Edwards took to the fields with his son Blake for some play. The eight-acre site contains two adjacent soccer fields that will be open to the city’s numerous youth and adult league players, who have long requested the city’s shortage of space be corrected. Of course, reservations will be required.
The fields were donated to the city by Limoneira, Agromin provided the mulch, and Edwards said Limoneira workers “laser leveled it... before, there was nothing here,” but now there are acres of field against a dramatic mountain backdrop. “Look at this, isn’t it great?” Edwards said excitedly as players took to the fields.
The creation of the fields brought back memories to Edwards. “When I was a little kid” in the mid-1970s, “my mother (Marcia) started AYSO” in the local area.
The dedication included a field blessing as well as a ribbon-cutting ceremony that included Vice Mayor Jim Tovias and Councilmen Bob Gonzales and Fred Robinson. Edwards said completion of the first 500 residences of the East Area 1 development would act as a trigger to convert the use of the fields to a catch basin, and move the soccer facilities “to the 35 acre sports” park Limoneira will create.
“I played soccer all the way through college,” noted Edwards. “And a soccer field is recession proof,” as the sport has become one of the nation’s favorites for both children and adults.
Edwards also called the creation of the soccer fields “our first step as a company,” becoming more deeply involved in the East Area 1 development. “We’re really proud... we believe we can bring the community together through sports.”
“We certainly needed something for kids and adults who play in the leagues,” said Gonzales, who has pushed for more recreational facilities since his election to the Council. “It’s because of the generosity of Limoneira that this happened... I had looked at property, a call went out and they answered,” providing, Gonzales noted, “a good place to play and something to be proud of.”
Sylvia De Santiago, the AYSO Region 82 commissioner, said the league is grateful, as “Every year we struggled” to find soccer play space. The schools were generous in letting the sport on campus fields and the city supportive, “but this will open up” space for new activities such as soccer camps and play for the disabled.
“We feel we can accommodate 60 teams here” and this season AYSO has 750 participates, a number De Santiago said is limited only because of the lack of fields. “The kids are all excited!” she added as she watched the children play.
“We came to the dedication to thank Bob,” said Jerry Marquez, a spokesperson for youth and adult soccer players, who noted Gonzales was solidly behind the effort when he first learned of the shortage.
Although maintained by Limoneira, the fields will be administered by the city’s Community Services Department. Director Brian Yanez said the “whole department is thrilled” over the boost in field space.
“Everyone is welcome to use our fields,” but Yanez said the city would be closely monitoring usage to ensure reservations are first secured and rules adhered to. “Users must do the paperwork,” and Yanez said there are rules for field reservations, and a park monitor will enforce use.
