Field of Dirt, At the Moment

There are about 65 acres on Elliot and near Recker, near Morrison Ranch's newest budding community - Highland Groves - that has been under discussion for some time now. This is a piece of ground that originally was planned to be another regional park for Gilbert, but the town has struggled to find funds to develop it, and it looked as though nothing was going to be able to be done for several years. Several groups have brought proposals for alternate uses, and the one that seems to be on track for approval has erupted into rather a political firestorm. Read the whole article in the East Valley Tribune, but here is an excerpt:

Leaders of several Gilbert youth sports organizations are upset with a Town Council decision to favor a California company to develop a town park.

And they want some of those who voted yes voted out of office.

Leaders of the Gilbert American Little League, Wham Basketball, Arizona Soccer Club, Gilbert Pop Warner and the Gilbert National Little League are getting the word out that they oppose the re-election of Mayor Steve Berman and Councilman Dave Petersen in the March 8 primary. Berman, along with the majority of the council, voted Jan. 18 to begin negotiations with Big League Dreams of Chino Hills, Calif., for facilities at 65-acre Elliot District Park. The company manages parks of replica ballfields that are decorated to resemble legendary major league fields.

The Mister isn't familiar with all the details of the latest proposals, but he said the Field of Dreams is intended, and marketed to, adults. It's true that Gilbert is in real need of more playing fields for our youth, and this seems to be a pretty sticky situation. Hopefully the resolution will benefit Gilbert as well as the residents of Highland Groves and the Superstition Springs Church, which will both be neighbors to the result.