Collier Park soccer arena closer to reality

San Diego County supervisors has approved $622,046 for a soccer arena in Collier Park.

Of that, $250,000 is private donations from the Boys and Girls Club of Greater San Diego, which operates a Ramona branch in Collier park.

Collier Park between Sixth and Seventh Streets off E Street totals 7.65 acres. In June 1996 the Boys and Girls Club entered into a 35-year lease for a community center building and a vacant area at the northwest corner of the county park.

Under the lease the Boys and Girls Club is responsible for operating and maintaining the community center as a youth club open to the public.

County staff has been involved in discussions with the Boys and Girls Club and assisted the club with the project design, according to a report to the supervisors.

The soccer arena would include an adult regulation-size soccer field with playable walls, artificial turf for water conservation and energy-efficient lights to allow soccer league competition during evenings.

The project also includes two existing tennis courts in another section of the park and outside the youth club lease area. The tennis courts are not in suitable condition, the county report states. One tennis court would be repaired and the other tennis court would be converted into a basketball court.

County money was used for the $372,046 appropriation amount beyond what was provided by the Boys and Girls Club.

County staff and Boys and Girls Club representatives are negotiating a lease amendment that would include annual operations and maintenance of the soccer arena, related improvements, and revenue sharing from the arena.

The lease amendment will add provisions regarding stormwater compliance, youth sport standards and vending machine contents.

The supervisors will be asked to approve the lease amendment and to authorize the advertisement for bid and subsequent award of a construction contract for the soccer arena.