Story Created:
Apr 2, 2009 at 3:20 PM PST
Story Updated:
Apr 2, 2009 at 3:20 PM PST
SOUTH GATE — The City Council has approved an agreement with a private Scottish firm to build and operate a $5.5 million five-on-a-side soccer complex on 3.5 acres of South Gate Park, 4900 Southern Ave., on the condition that the plan include a batting cage for city use.
The City Council approved the agreement 4-1 March 24 after several months of negotiations. Councilman Greg Martinez dissented.
Parks and Recreation Director Paul Adams said the fields for five-player per team competition are 22 by 33 feet, much smaller than a regular soccer field.
The city also wants batting cages on the site.
Under the proposed agreement, the private company would lease the site from the city for $154,000 a year for a period of 25 years, plus two five-year extensions, Adams said.
The location in question is at the northeast corner of the park, formerly leased to the Los Angeles Unified School District as a temporary site for Tweedy Elementary School until a new school was ready nearby.
Adams said the Scottish-based firm, Goals Soccer Center, is expanding into the U.S. market.
Proposed are 11 miniature soccer fields with supporting buildings to include locker rooms, offices, a media classroom and sales areas for food and soccer equipment.
Goals Soccer Center also has indicated it would help the city with the batting cages.
Adams said the size of the project calls for 56 parking spaces under city code. Of that amount, 48 can be provided on the leased site while the other eight can be shared with adjoining parking.
Goals Soccer Center will stripe the adjoining parking area, in effect creating 25 more spaces, Adams said.
City proposals call for the Scottish firm to staff the center from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. with prime-time playing from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday.
They city would get 25 hours of weekday prime time and 12 hours of weekend prime time for its programs, along with 40 hours of non-prime time, Adams said.
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