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MASTER PLANNING DEVELOPMENT
Morley Field - Comprehensive Plan
Incremental Implementation Development for this master plan can be at a a small scale and in phases to achieve much larger goals for outdoor recreation enhancements. Morley Field is part of the larger Balboa Park area and the sports complex currently houses tennis courts, mixed baseball and soccer fields, dog park, hiking trails, kick ball, softball, frisbee golf, Balboa Park Golf course, Bud Kerns lap lane pool, archery and off road biking and biking velodrome. Our goal is to start with lighting at fields to first allow for later adult softball and youth groups to extend play with next steps to replace bathrooms. The larger vision is to create dedicated soccer fields then would allow for additional baseball fields while enhance and create more sports facilities throughout.
We all learn differently and collaborate in many ways. This map is another tool for adding information and showing others which innovations can be done. We can add video links, pictures, videos, maps and trails to improve the site.
Take a Closer Look!
Dedicated Soccer on Pershing Dr. North
Conversion of Nursery Site to Soccer Fields
The Site of the nursery is underutilized and could be relocated for access to sports in our urban neighborhood. The use of this development can be the starting block to move the whole project forward as it would give way to the dedicated baseball fields to follow rather than sharing main field space between two sports groups. The addition of a club house can service FC Balboa and AYSO as well as other youth and adult groups in off season time. Currently the groups are at Morley Field, North Park Rec, Jefferson Elementary and Golden Hill Rec Center and this would let them consolidate into one location and host tournaments.
Dedicated Baseball
Maximize Field Use with Additional Facilities
Currently the Fields need to be broken down and setup annually and this creates a lot of work for volunteers but also creates conflicts with other sports such as soccer, kickball and softball. The ability to create additional fields within the same footprint aligns with the original master plan as well make opportunities for tournament events. Shade structures, bathrooms, snack shack and permanent seating in the center of the area would also allow the existing dugouts can be used for kickball and tee ball. The densification of the area would allow more sporting events in more condensed time schedules to increase permitting and city revenue.
Beach Volley Ball
Existing Restoration Project
Beach Volley Ball has been existing for many years but due to poor maintenance and lack of equipment the space is not utilized. This is a quick and easy activation opportunity and has already begun with the installation of nets at both locations along Joe Schloss Way. We are organizing a public cleanup event to make this space better utilized with a goal of more permanent installation for replaced sand, seating, shade structures and benches.
Archery Range
Upgrade Bathrooms + Storage + Shade
Minor Improvements to the Archery Range for Storage and Bathroom facilities would help our visitors have a safe place in close proximity to the facilities. Shade would be a big benefit as the majority of time is spent at the shooting area. Permanent parking is limited due to sharing with Baseball and Soccer and temporary parking is needed to be more formalized to help meet demand.
New Skate Park
Addition of Skate Park Facilities Near Upas
The addition of several skating areas at the south end of the Archery Range and East of the Knights Baseball field is currently not utilized and would be an ideal location for bicyclist, roller skating and skate boarding activities. Dependent on the design and expanse of layout tournaments could be held here for the sport to flourish for our young athletes.
Off Road Biking Tracks
Currently non Utilized Space Along Upas Street
Being able to active the current wooded area along Upas Street can be a great place for off road biking enthusiasts to have a formal track with courses for all skill levels. This can be in conjunction with expanding trail widths throughout the park so the trail walkers, hikers and bikers can safely share Morley Field. The ability to have a space that is setup just for biking activities can be a great place for youth programs and adult groups alike.
Par Course Upgrades
Current Par Course is in Need of Updating
The current Par Course is missing half the locations and many of the remaining locations are missing the signs or infrastructure needed. This can be such a great opportunity to encourage exercise, exploration, way finding and also support a formal running / jogging course. The ability to provide clusters but also spread them out around the park can be a fun and curiosity building experience for all age levels. These are low cost and easy to install.
Upgrading Playgrounds
Several Locations around the Park Need Replacement
Our most frequent visitors to the park are for sporting activates but also for play and exploration of nature. Creating a series of unique experience at each play structure around the park can encourage family's and youth to explore other areas that they would not normally go. They can have connection via digital maps but also fixed binoculars that point to the next play structure which encourage curiosity. .
Aquatic Complex
Expansion of Bud Kerns Pool with Aquatic Complex
The current issues the community faces with Bud Kerns Pool is that it is a historic Building and Pool which limits the extent of its size and use. It currently functions as lap lanes with flex space to the North and South but this restricts family use of the space. Small children are not able to utilize the facility like other state of the art facilities which would focus on varied zones of indoor and outdoor but also kids dedicated areas and adults. The addition of Olympic activities like diving and water polo areas could be a benefit along with slides for active recreation.
Pershing Dr. South Future Expansion
Repurpose the City Site at edge of Golden Hill
In any event of site activation this area would benefit of reconnecting the existing park facilities at Morley Field, Golden Hill and Balboa Park to Downtown through greenspace. This area is currently used for homeless encampment and city equipment but soccer fields or other facilities would bridge the connection of green space to downtown and the communities in South Park, Golden Hill, North Park and Hillcrest. These can include Soccer, Football, Rock climbing, Basketball and more. This site is currently used for City Operations but can be a longer term concept of expansion Designs Base Courtesy of Studio Varone https://studiovarone.com/home
Indoor + Outdoor Basketball Court
Recreation Facility - Pershing Dr. South
Indoor Basketball, Rock-climbing, Racquetball and Youth afterschool and summer programs can be created at Morley Field Sports Complex to encourage new programs being developed at the Pershing Drive south location to be coupled with soccer, rock climbing and football.
Additional Soccer Fields
Two Soccer Fields - Pershing Dr. South
The ability to have multipurpose sporting events including Soccer at the Pershing Dr. South Location will allow for dedicated soccer fields to be installed in the upper Golden Hill Park and Recreation center as these would not need to be shared with both sports. The proximity to other soccer fields higher on Pershing Dr. North and also direct access for Football, Basketball and Rock climbing facilities would also allow this site to tie Morley Field, Balboa Park, Downtown and Golden Hill together.
Foot Ball Fields
Two Football Field Optional Addition - Pershing Dr South
The ability to add football fields in NorthPark and Golden Hill would allow the formation of new youth programs to split the field into multiple configurations and get multiple playing times to diversify the Field of Dreams program to be fully inclusive of all existing programs while allowing for future programs to be developed. The Images shows stadium seating as an variation and future final design intent. This can be swapped out with Soccer Fields as an alternative.
The use of the City Operations Site would allow for more community engagement but also take time for relocation and additional cost.
Indoor Velodrome Option
Large Scale Olympic Velodrome Venue
Currently the Velodrome is a vibrant and well used facility with activities happening daily. The ability to create an indoor velodrome facility would allow for year around use and tournaments to utilize the facility which will increase income to the city. This is an optional add on and would be only pursued if the users find the need to support the endeavor.
Soccer Fields Pershing Dr.
Dedicated Field South of Knights Baseball
The ideal solution would be to create a series of soccer fields south of the Knights Baseball Field in coordination with Studio Varone Architecture. This area allows for new site placement without displacing other sports facilities. The region will repurpose old landfill in Florida Canyon. This will allow for year around use along with dedicated baseball fields that will also allow year around use. This would require closing the Arizona Landfill at a large cost and isn't viable at this time.
Designs Courtesy of Studio Varone https://studiovarone.com/home
Knights Field Upgrades
City College Knight's Baseball
The City College Knoghts team has a beautiful facility on the south end of the Morley Field Sports Complex and this project can be for better seating and field amenity spaces for players and fans to improve overall usership of the site which would include new lighting, snack shack, raised seating deck, bathrooms and locker rooms.