Fields of Dreams

The movie Field of Dreams famously said, "Build it and they will come." Guess what? They are already here!

The culmination of ten years of hope and hard work by residents living in Northwest Fresno to build a park complex that included recreation amenities for all ages, but with a special focus on baseball was realized on Saturday when Figarden Park opened to the public. It was a joyous, beautiful day in Fresno with adults and children enjoying the new park. Some, but not all, of the adults there for the opening were veterans of the long-running effort to bring Figarden Park to fruition. It's a credit to these citizens, primarily the baseball enthusiasts, that I can I tell this story of the Fields of Dreams.

As a candidate campaigning door-to-door in 1999-2000 for city council representing northwest Fresno, I received numerous requests for a neighborhood park, particularly one that had a baseball field. These requests were, I soon learned, not just something new. Former Northwest area council members and city mayors had also been asked for a park to serve the fast-growing northwest Fresno area. While I couldn't promise anything, I assured people when they asked about a park that I would do my best and make it a high priority if elected.

When I took office in January of 2001, I told my newly appointed council assistant, Ann Kloose, that we were going to do everything possible to build a park for the residents of Northwest Fresno. Dreaming was one thing; execution and delivering, however, was another.

Ann immediately contacted residents that we already knew wanted a park. An active core of the interested residents were members of or supporters of baseball leagues. We learned that the baseball community was diverse both in the ethnic make-up of its players and coaches, and in the expansive age range of its players. There were Tee-Ball players as young as five and Men's League players as mature as 57, sometimes from the same family. Some played the game in the spring just for fun, while others opted to join summer camps, fall ball leagues or travel ball all year long.

An active park advisory committee was put together and the long process began for making the case for the park, deciding what the park should include, paying for the park, and the actual building of the park.

Because of the rapid development of the Figarden Loop area, it was critical to purchase enough land from the developer or the park would never be a reality. The Southern California developer was told that I would not be supportive of further development of his property unless he sold a multi-acre parcel to the city at a very reasonable price. Negotiations were difficult, but they finally resulted in the very reasonable purchase price of $1.5 million.

Next was the citizen advisory committee reports of 2005-2006 Two citizen committees, one for the Northwest Park and another to recommend a master park plan for the City of Fresno, weighed in with their recommendations. The Figarden Loop Park Project identified the need for a baseball emphasis with one large field for use by older youth/adults and smaller fields of younger youth baseball leagues.

A decision was made to develop the park in two phases: Phase I would be to build four smaller youth fields on the vacant property owned by Figarden Elementary School. The available land was immediately adjacent to the multi-acre Phase II park purchase, would be built by the city and maintained by the Fresno Unified School District. The baseball fields would be used by school children during school hours and available fir general baseball youth leagues after school, holidays and during the summer. A true win-win for everyone.

The four fields were officially dedicated in the summer of 2007 with the first ceremonial pitch thrown out by Mayor Alan Autry and representatives of Fresno Unified. Use of the baseball fields began immediately.

After the dedication of Phase I, Ann and I turned to the final planning and financing of the much larger Phase II park to include a professional-size baseball field for adult youth/adults, playground equipment, picnic centers and a water splash center.

Major credit for helping to make Phase II happen is given to the Fresno Flood Control District that provided financial support for linking the Phase I baseball fields and Phase II park project by landscaping and seeding their flood control basin into a multi-use field, particularly for soccer.

Another generous partner helping to link the Phase I and Phase II park projects was Wathan Castanos Builders. This fine company financed the walkway from one park to the other as well as the walkway around the flood control basin.

A competitive bidding process led to the selection of an outstanding company specializing in the design of parks. After the design plans were submitted, adjusted somewhat, and then approved by the citizen advisory committee and the city's Public Works Department, bids were let for the actual Phase II construction phase. Granite Construction, a superb construction company, was the winning bidder with a bid that came in well under the estimate. Sub contractors were selected and construction was set to begin. A joyous public ground breaking was held in October of 2008. Work on the Phase II Figarden Park began soon thereafter.

The fully-completed Figarden Park was officially opened Saturday to scores of adults and children. The sunshine in January even permitted a "live demonstration" (children were waiting to get wet!) of the splash park section of squirting over sized baseballs, buckets dumping water, and a kiddie "body wash." A giant slide sent children winding down to the bottom, swings pushed by parents sent children into the sky, twisters swung kids around and around.

Only the professional-size baseball field was silent except for parents and their hoping-to-be baseball-playing children checking it out. Sunken dugouts, batting and hitting cages like the downtown Grizzlies waited to feel the cleats and sound of the crack of wood against rawhide.

It was a shame that the Fresno media did not cover the park opening. Good things do happen in these difficult times. The oversize bat and baseballs at the entrance to Figarden Park were a fitting silent welcome message for those entering: Many of you, as well as many of your friends and neighbors asked for this park more than 10 years ago. Your city helped make it possible. Welcome, everyone, to Fresno's fields of dreams.

Coming Soon. . .

1. We should not tolerate releasing prisoners from the Fresno County Jail.
2. Where are our private sector leaders?
3. Public transportation and the tyranny of the cell phone abuser.

Comments are welcome. Click on "Comments" below or e-mail abriancalhoun@gmail.com.