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Residents, parents and youth urge Hermosa Beach to restore Clark Field’s lower hoops
Summary
Multiple residents, parents and youth told the council on Feb. 24 that removing shorter (9-foot) basketball hoops at Clark Field has deprived children of a nearby place to practice. Parents and HPYB leaders urged immediate reinstatement and proposed signage and backboard warnings to limit competitive play.
Dozens of residents, parents and youth told the Hermosa Beach City Council on Feb. 24 that removing shorter basketball hoops at Clark Field has taken away vital practice space for young players.
An unnamed resident asked the council, "Can you please bring back the basketball hoops soon?" Mackenzie, an 8-year-old student at Hermosa Vista, said she used the shorter 9-foot rim at Clark Field every day after school and has lost a key place to practice. "We are in the middle of HBYB season," she said, asking the council to "put the hoops back up this week."
Renee Ciemack, a parent who said she represents a community petition (stated in remarks as roughly 50 signers), urged the council to reinstate two 9-foot hoops and to keep other rims at standard height to avoid encouraging competitive adult play. Ciemack suggested adding warning signs to backboards labeling them "youth basketball hoops" and removing court lines to discourage formal competition.
Dan Madden, president of Hermosa Beach Youth Basketball (HPYB), told the council that Clark Field has become more heavily used year-round and that younger players lack any public 9-foot hoops in Hermosa Beach. "If you're learning how to shoot, you need 9-foot rims," he said, adding that the community cannot wait years for a larger Clark Field renovation to restore youth-accessible facilities.
Why it matters: Residents said the removed hoops were used by neighborhood kids, young siblings during baseball season and local youth leagues, and that their absence limits informal practice opportunities and safe places to play near home. Petitioners said risk-management memos used to justify removal cite standards meant for formal competitive gym play and do not apply to casual, youth-focused use.
What the council will do next: Several petitioners said they would meet staff soon; the mayor noted staff conversations were already scheduled. No formal council action to reinstate or direct immediate reinstallation of the hoops was recorded at the Feb. 24 meeting.
Context and quotes: At the Feb. 10 Parks & Recreation Commission meeting, speakers said commissioners were receptive to reinstating the hoops, and commenters at Feb. 24 argued city risk-management guidance focused on competitive-court standards rather than casual youth use.
Ending: The council did not vote on the matter on Feb. 24. Petition organizers and HPYB leaders said they would continue discussions with staff and pursue administrative avenues to seek reinstatement before the Clark Field renovation is completed.
