Joe Albi sports plan advances

A proposal to build a sports complex scored the go-ahead run Monday from the City Council.

But the plan, which would construct a softball complex, improved soccer fields, a skateboard park and BMX track on land north of Joe Albi Stadium, isn’t in the final inning.

The City Council unanimously agreed to endorse the proposal spearheaded by City Councilman Rob Crow.

What comes next could be tougher: figuring out how to pay for it.

“This isn’t a perfect plan, but it’s a good plan,” said City Council President Joe Shogan. “Perfect is the enemy of the good.”

Since 80 percent of voters agreed to sell park land eight years ago to build a sports complex, the money has sat while concerns over traffic and alcohol sales stopped efforts to build. Meanwhile, estimated costs of the plan have increased to almost three times as much as the $4 million the city has for the project.

Little League Baseball interests, one significant obstacle to Crow’s plan, said they were pleased by an amendment made by Councilwoman Mary Verner that agrees to consider baseball needs before final approval.

The council agreed to figure out by Aug. 6 how to pay for the project – not only for what’s proposed near Albi, but for new baseball fields.

After the meeting, park director Mike Stone said a bond issue for softball and baseball also could include requests to upgrade and add swimming pools.

City Councilman Al French warned that anything on the ballot must be specific – especially since the 1999 vote remains unfulfilled.

“Keep in mind that (voters) already have a bad taste in their mouth,” French said. “They already voted yes once and got nothing.”

Little League baseball officials have argued that the city has plenty of softball fields, but no decent diamonds for them.

On Monday, about 50 uniformed Little League players sat in the council chambers for the debate. More than 30 people testified, many of them kids, who decried the condition of the baseball fields they use now. Most of those diamonds are on school property.

“We need new fields because we are the second biggest city in this state and we have no fields at all,” said Will Lyle, 10.

City Council candidate Dan Peck, who is president of Spokane North Little League, testified that six of the seven City Council members signed a pledge in The Spokesman-Review to do what they can to provide a safe and nurturing environment for kids. He argues a softball complex serves mostly adults.

“To me a pledge is a promise,” Peck said. “If you vote against these kids tonight, to me, that’s breaking the promise.”

Crow has argued that his plan is only a start and that the construction of softball fields will provide more opportunities to young baseball players. While other local baseball leagues often play on softball diamonds, Little League discourages play on them.

City Council members said if they want people to approve extra taxes for parks, baseball fields must be part of the plan.

“It’s not going to pass the ballot until we get the baseball issue addressed,” said Councilman Brad Stark.