Sports Field For Santa Monica High 10 Years Overdue, Supporters Say

SANTA MONICA (CBSLA.com) — An overflow crowd filled City Hall on Tuesday to call on elected leaders to keep their promise from 2005 to build a sports field as part of a Civic Center plan.

The 10-acre parcel of public land just west of Santa Monica High School in this space-squeezed town is not being used for the public good, supporters of the sports field say.

"We were promised this in 2005. It's 2016," PTA President Joan Krenik said.

"Ten years later, we're being back-burnered again. The kids who came with me in 2005 have graduated from college, some have graduated from medical school, we still don't have our field," said Maryanne Laguardia of the Sports Field Advisory Council.

While there's no field, the city has allowed an early education center from a private Santa Monica think tank, something local parents say feels like the city's trying to make money.

Student athlete have to walk more than a mile for practices or cancel them altogether.

But Mayor Tony Vasquez says at the very least there will be open green space.

"I don't think fair to say that ... we're changing our priorities. It's still in the plan. Playing fields are in the plan," Vasquez said.

Tuesday night, the City Council said it would take all community input into account and will move forward with a plan.