Ontario council tables decision on Jay Littleton Ballpark plan after packed public hearing

Hundreds of residents and a long line of speakers descended on the Ontario City Council to press elected officials to preserve Jay Littleton Ballpark and the adjacent Scout House, prompting councilors to table a staff-recommended multi‑use concept for further review.

The council discussed a staff-drawn concept for John Galvin Park that would reconfigure parking, add community amenities such as splash pads and a community center, and alter the footprint of the historic ballpark. Dozens of parents, scout leaders and former players urged the council not to lose neighborhood baseball or the Scout House, which speakers said has been used by local scouting units for decades.

"Let's put a couple of grandstands on each side ... and let's get that thing relined and let's play some baseball," Gary Littleton said, urging a modest rebuild that would return the field to youth use. Multiple scout leaders and former scouts described the Scout House as a 70‑year community asset used for meetings, flag retirements, camping and skill-building.

Council members acknowledged the depth of community feeling but flagged financial and legal constraints. One council member said, "With the insurance settlement being approximately $7,000,000, it just doesn't make sense to build it back to the way that it was," noting modern building codes, ADA requirements and parking demands make a like‑for‑like reconstruction infeasible.

Mayor Pro Tem Wapner moved to direct staff to proceed with the multi‑use concept while ensuring the Scout House would be preserved or relocated and that adjacent youth fields be improved. After further discussion and a procedural substitute motion, the council voted to table the item for additional public outreach, clearer design detail and coordination with the parks, historical preservation and planning commissions. The council did not adopt a final plan at the meeting.

Supporters of the preserve‑and-rebuild approach said they want quick fixes to get kids playing again — adding dugouts, functioning lights and modest seating — while families and scout leaders pushed for a clear, guaranteed plan for scouting facilities before any concept advances. City staff and the city attorney said any concept approved by the council at this stage would still require multiple subsequent approvals, environmental review (CEQA) and further public hearings.

The council’s decision to table means staff will refine the concept, work with scouting leaders on a preservation or relocation plan, consider upgrades to nearby fields, and return with a more detailed proposal. The council meeting ended with an acknowledgement from members that more outreach and clearer renderings are needed before a final vote. The council adjourned and said the item will return at a later date for continued review.