Hahamongna may get soccer field
Pasadena, La Canada Flintridge working on agreement to share costs
By Becky Oskin
Staff Writer

PASADENA -- Hahamongna Watershed Park north of Devil's Gate Dam in the Arroyo Seco is closer to La Canada Flintridge homeowners than to most Pasadena residents.

Recognizing that people from both cities use the park, officials from both are working on an agreement to split the cost of developing a joint-use soccer field that is part of the Arroyo Seco Master Plan.

The Sycamore Field expansion project will increase the borders of the park by 2.5 acres and add a new multi-purpose sports field with irrigation, a restroom and parking lots. The total estimated cost is $2 million, which includes raising the field level by 10 feet to prevent flooding.

The proposed field would be south of the popular soccer field at Oak Grove Park, near a stand of willows targeted for habitat restoration.

The city of Pasadena will fund the improvement with $1 million in county Proposition A funds, according to a staff report.

La Canada Flintridge Mayor Anthony Portantino said his city will decide where the funding comes from when an agreement is finalized with Pasadena.

There's a high demand for soccer fields in both cities, said Portantino, a referee for his 10-year-old daughter's soccer league.

"All kids in the region will benefit," he said.

The cities will also split the annual maintenance cost, estimated at $30,100 per year. Pasadena will issue permits for the field.

At their meeting Wednesday night, the Pasadena Recreation and Parks Commission approved adding the project to the city's Capital Improvement Program budget and applying for the necessary funds, but put off preparing an agreement with La Canada Flintridge.

"The commission's concern was we have not yet completed the master Environmental Impact Report for the Arroyo Seco. They thought we were jumping a little ahead by going before the master EIR," said Julie Gutierrez, director of Pasadena's Parks and Natural Resources Department.

-- Becky Oskin can be reached at (626) 578-6300, Ext. 4451, or by e-mail at becky.oskin@sgvn.com.