DOWNEY — The city’s first new park in 30 years will open with a bang July 4 with an all-day grand opening and fireworks at the site, the Discovery Sports Complex Park, 12400 Clark Ave., at Lakewood Boulevard.

In a report to the City Council Tuesday night, Deputy City Manager Mark Sauter estimated a cost of $50,000 for the, which includes $30,000 for a 25-minute fireworks display by Pyro-Spectacular and the rest for city staff to set up and take down booths, erect portable restrooms, supply materials and provide other services as needed.

Council members directed city staff to continue with the plans on a 4-1 vote with Mayor Pro Tem Anne Bayer dissenting. She said the cost was too much and the city should start saving for a program next year.

Councilman Dave Gafin also voiced concern about the cost but said it is a special occasion to mark the opening of the park. He added that many residents have asked the city to resume its community fireworks display but noted that it was actually sponsored by the Junior Chamber of Commerce at Warren High School a number of years ago.

“The economy is in a poor place, but the city has done a good job of saving,” Councilman Roger Brossmer. “This is a one-time expense. Many people can’t afford fireworks this year.”

Councilman Luis Marquez agreed but called for the city to conduct a fireworks show annually, saying it would hopefully replace individuals setting off fireworks in their neighborhoods.

“Block parties are getting out of hand,” he said.

Mayor Mario Guerra, who proposed the celebration several weeks ago, said he believes donations toward the cost can be obtained from organizations and businesses in the community.

“We already have a pledge for $1,000 from the Downey Optimist Club,” he said.

Resident Richard Pridham said he had no objection to the planned event but said it was “not consistent with the city going green.”

Guerra disagreed, saying if the community event replaces the individual setting off of fireworks it would result in less air pollution.

Sauter, who was city fire chief before his promotion to deputy city manager, said fewer people setting off fireworks would reduce the avalanche of calls from residents to his department each July 4 complaining of neighborhood actions.

Sauter said work on the park should be completed in five weeks, in time for the July 4 event to include a grand opening ceremony and ribbon cutting, team sports on the two athletic fields, food and game booths hosted by local organizations and activities for adults and children.

Also proposed is family entertainment, although there is no budget for live entertainment.

The $7 million, 11-acre facility is next to the two-acre, $9 million Columbia Memorial Space and Learning Center, expected to open later this summer.
Both the park and the center are named for space shuttles which were designed and manufactured there in the 1960s and 1970s.

The land is now occupied by a 34-acre Downey Landing Shopping Center south of Stewart and Gray Road between Lakewood and Bellflower boulevards, the 78-acre Downey Movie Studios south of the shopping center and the Kaiser Permanente Hospital, nearing completion east of the museum and park on 30 acres northwest of Bellflower Boulevard and Imperial Highway.

Discovery Sports Complex has two baseball fields and two soccer fields, all lighted, along with a snack bar and restroom building.

The park playing fields also serve as a flood basin to hold storm water during heavy rain, as required by state water officials.

Eighteen Downey youth athletic teams with more than 17,000 players are expected to use the fields along with the schools and general public, city officials said.