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Fallbrook residents urge board to keep downtown ball fields after county buys site; supervisors approve consent package
Summary
County consent agenda included purchase of three acres in downtown Fallbrook; community members and advisory board members urged protecting the land as active parkland and opposed replacing fields with housing. The consent package, which included the acquisition, passed unanimously.
Residents and community groups in Fallbrook urged the San Diego County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday to preserve three acres of downtown ball fields rather than repurpose the site for housing after the county moved to acquire the property as part of a consent package.
Supervisor Joel Anderson moved the consent agenda and Supervisor Jim Desmond seconded; the board approved consent items by a single vote. The consent agenda included a proposed acquisition of the downtown Fallbrook fields to support the North County Fire Protection District's funding needs for a new station, but several speakers told the board that parkland replacement should be a priority.
Members of Fallbrook's Parks Advisory Board and local youth-sports leaders told the board the ball fields have served the community for generations and are the only sports fields in the village core. "This 3 acres is a horrible location for housing, but perfect for ball fields and should remain as such," said Stephanie Flores, president of Fallbrook Girls Softball. Ricardo Favrella, representing the Fallbrook Local Parks Advisory Board, said the group 'urges the county to consider preserving these ball fields for public active recreation.
Supervisor Desmond, who spoke in support of completing the land transaction to allow the Fire Protection District to proceed with station planning, said he will bring a future agenda item to explore other options for parkland and additional ball fields in Fallbrook.
The board adopted the entire consent calendar with a single motion and unanimous vote; the approval means the county proceeds with the acquisition but did not immediately announce a replacement plan for active recreational fields. Several callers and letter-writers asked the county to ensure any housing alternative would not permanently reduce active parkland in downtown Fallbrook.
Ending: The purchase advances the county and the Fire Protection District's planning goals, while local advocates called for a parallel county-led plan to preserve or replace ball fields in the village core.
