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Residents and historians urge Ontario to preserve Jay Littleton Ballpark; council asks staff for full presentation
Summary
Multiple residents, heritage advocates and youth-sport leaders urged the council to preserve Jay Littleton Ballpark after a grandstand fire and urged the city to solicit neighborhood input; council committed to a comprehensive staff presentation before any vote.
A string of public commenters urged the Ontario City Council to preserve and restore Jay Littleton Ballpark rather than replace it with a modern splash pad or a privately run venue. Speakers included Little League officials, members of Ontario Heritage, descendants of Jay Littleton and representatives of local Scout organizations.
"J Littleton Ballpark isn't just a piece of patch of grass. It is a living time capsule," said Gloria Jones of Ontario Heritage, urging the council to preserve the park's wooden grandstands and film-connected history. Ken Braithwaite, a Little League official, noted the site's potential to generate revenue for local businesses and said rebuilding could honor the city's baseball heritage.
Charlene Littleton, the youngest daughter of Jay Littleton, asked for a clear schedule of when the council will vote on the property's future and questioned cost estimates, asking for an itemized breakdown if the project could approach $100 million. "We're not looking for a Major League park," she said, "we don't even need 3,500 seats, but we need baseball to remain in this community."
Other commenters raised related concerns: Joe Fleetstra (Rotary) and David Austin (Scoutmaster) warned that some of the four proposed plans would demolish the Rotary Scout House (built 1950) for parking; Chris Robles and others criticized the city's community outreach, saying 72-hour notice is insufficient to engage neighborhood residents and that publicly funded proposals should not be privately run pay-to-enter facilities.
Mayor Leon responded that the council will post the ballpark matter on an upcoming agenda and asked staff to prepare a comprehensive presentation. "I have asked staff to give us a comprehensive presentation," he said, and the council did not take any final action at this meeting.
Speakers urged the council to prioritize community engagement, preserve heritage assets and provide detailed cost and operational plans before any final decision.
