Bonita Canyon Sports Park nears delayed completion

June Casagrande

Two years late and nearly $7 million later, the Bonita Canyon Sports

Park will finally open. A grand opening celebration is planned for

Aug. 24 for the first phase of what will be the city’s largest active

park.

“It’s really nice to see these parks coming on line,” City

Councilman Dick Nichols said at the July 9 City Council meeting.

The first phase will include opening of all the playing fields.

Remaining areas where turf grass is still taking root will open in

the fall.

When finally complete in autumn, the 33.5-acre park will have four

baseball fields, two full-size and three peewee soccer fields, two

children’s playgrounds, two tennis courts, a basketball court, three

restroom buildings, 300 parking spaces and pedestrian walkways.

“We’re on our third contractor to complete the work and what we

have is a project that’s two years delayed,” Councilman John

Heffernan said.

The park was scheduled to open in summer of 2001, but hit the

rocks when contractor Castello Inc. was crippled by financial

troubles and couldn’t complete the job. The bonding company made good

on the city’s claim and covered the cost of hiring a new contractor,

but the work hit more setbacks.

Most notably, sprinkler heads installed throughout the park were

defective. These problems didn’t cost the city any more money, but

they did set back the opening about two years.

A grand opening ceremony will take place Aug. 24 at the park,

which is along Bonita Canyon Road between Prairie Road and MacArthur

Boulevard. The event will begin at 3 p.m. with a dedication ceremony

for the sports fields.

From 3 to 5 p.m., 1950s and ‘60s music will be performed in a free

concert by the Rockit Scientists. Other events throughout the day

will be youth sports clinics, bounce houses, face painters,

refreshments and other activities for kids and adults.

For more information, call the city’s Recreation and Senior

Services Division at (949) 644-3151.

* JUNE CASAGRANDE covers Newport Beach and John Wayne Airport. She

may be reached at (949) 574-4232 or by e-mail at

[email protected].