HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 07 - Santa Anita Handball Court Update Parks, Recreation, and Community Services
https://www.santa-ana.org/parks
Item # 7
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
June 15, 2021
TOPIC: Santa Anita Handball Court Update
AGENDA TITLE:
Santa Anita Handball Court Update
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Receive and file the Santa Anita Handball Court public input update.
DISCUSSION
As a follow-up to direction given at the February 2, 2021 City Council meeting, staff sought
additional public input about the removal of the Santa Anita Handball Court. On March
15, 2021, City staff mailed letters to residences within 1,000 feet of Santa Anita Park to
obtain input on the proposed removal of the handball court. Attached as Exhibit 1 is a
memorandum with the results of the public outreach. In addition to the mailers,
Councilmember Phan walked the neighborhood to ask the public directly about their
opinion on the handball courts. As a result of this process, City Staff will continue with
the removal of the handball court as part of the Santa Anita Park Improvement Project,
which will develop the north side of the park with additional parking, a new playground, a
new basketball court, security lighting, and landscaping.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
There is no environmental impact associated with this action.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this update.
EXHIBIT(S)
1. Memorandum
Submitted By: Lisa Rudloff, Executive Director of Parks, Recreation and Community
Services
Approved By: Kristine Ridge, City Manager
MEMORANDUM
To: Mayor and Members of the City Council Date: May 2, 2021
From:
Lisa Rudloff, Executive Director of PRCSA
Subject: Santa Anita Handball Court Public Input Completed
Honorable Mayor and members of the City Council,
I am following up on City Council direction given to the City Manager at the February 2, 2021
City Council meeting regarding seeking additional public input about the removal of the
handball court at Santa Anita Park.
On March 15, 2021 city staff, mailed letters (Exhibit 1) to residence within 1,000 feet of Santa
Anita Park to obtain their input on the proposed removal of the handball court in an effort to
expand the parking lot. The letter specifically stated if they DO NOT want the handball court
removed, please email (include name and address) the city no later than Friday, April 30,
2021. The direct expenses incurred for this project included translation services, printing,
postage, labor for inserting letters for a total $1,261.60.
This process is completed the results are as follows:
1. No responses from the community to keep the handball court
2. Additional emails received supporting the project and removal of handball courts:
a. I live at 318 S. Gunther St., and I would like to email my support for the propos ed
improvements.
b. Good afternoon, I am a long time resident of santanita I live on Gunther lived my
youth there and now have been here for the past 20 years and I am in
agreement with them getting rid of the handball court the times I have gone to
the park there are druggies using and really have never seen people play. I am
so excited to see that they are finally going to redo the park and can’t wait to go.
c. I don’t think the park needs the handball wall there’s all kind of bottles, clothes,
trash in general. The wall it’s just piling trash looking un safe for kids. -- Thank
you, Teresa Villanueva
d. Remove handball court email (9)
In addition to the mailers, Councilmember Phan walked the neighborhood, went door -to door,
and received the following responses:
Do not remove handball court: 1
Remove the handball court: 33
Unsure: 1
Exhibit 1