Supervisors approve agreement with FSA, funding to convert Fallbrook Sports Park roller hockey arena to artificial turf soccer arena

The roller hockey arena at Fallbrook Sports Park will be converted into an artificial turf soccer arena.

On Jan. 6, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to amend the county's agreement with the Fallbrook Sports Association, which operates the park on county-owned land, and to appropriate $125,000 of Park Land Dedication Ordinance funding to convert the roller hockey arena into an artificial turf soccer arena.

"The conversion of the roller hockey arena to an artificial turf soccer arena, as requested by the Fallbrook Sports Association, is a welcomed new amenity for Fallbrook Sports Park patrons," said Supervisor Bill Horn.

Fallbrook Sports Park is on the Fallbrook Community Airpark property, and the Fallbrook Sports Association leases the land from County Airports. The county and the Fallbrook Sports Association have an agreement for operations, maintenance, and improvements at Fallbrook Sports Park in which the Fallbrook Sports Association is responsible for park operations and maintenance and the county's Department of Parks and Recreation provides technical assistance for park improvement projects. In addition to the roller hockey arena, Fallbrook Sports Park also currently includes three multi-purpose sports fields, picnic areas and shade structures, concession and restroom buildings, and a parking lot.

Park Land Dedication Ordinance (PLDO) fees are collected from developers to fund park improvements in the area of the development. PLDO revenue may be spent on a park not operated by the Department of Parks and Recreation if that park is open to the public.

In 2015, the Fallbrook Sports Association requested $125,000 of PLDO funding to convert the roller hockey arena into an artificial turf soccer arena, and on Oct. 15 the County Service Area No. 81 advisory board which addresses parks in Fallbrook, DeLuz, and Rainbow voted 7-0 to recommend that amount of PLDO funding. The Fallbrook Sports Association has obtained an additional $13,600 to improve the arena lighting system and purchase an artificial turf groomer which will provide for maintenance of the artificial turf.

Department of Parks and Recreation staff has determined that the conversion would increase play capacity for the Fallbrook community, withstand heavy usage, and reduce maintenance activity and costs. The project will also convert a small portion of the existing arena spectator area to meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards, and the Department of Parks and Recreation also determined that the conversion will improve player and spectator access to the arena.

The conversion including the disabled access project does not involve expansion of the park, so the supervisors' Jan. 6 vote also found the project to be categorically exempt from California Environmental Quality Act review.

The Fallbrook Sports Association, which will be responsible for all project management costs, expects to begin the conversion during winter 2016 and complete the transition in spring 2016. The FSA will also be responsible for operations and maintenance, including costs, of the soccer arena after it is completed.