Cougar field has been paid for with public money. There is state law that applies to the use of the facility. AUSD must allow organized and unorganized groups, large and small, use of the field. State law. The same state law that applies to athletic and community facilities located in the city of El Cerrito and paid for with public money. School related use and community related use: yes, we can and must have it both ways. Even without state law, this is the just and proper position for AUSD to take.

Rent the field for profit? Non-profit (501-C-3) groups, such as youth soccer, will pay very little. “For profit” groups will pay market rate. Again, as it should be. Will the facility be a cash cow for the district? No.

Is it a “classroom facility”? Over 1000 PE students a day and their parents would say “yes”. Is it the same as a chemistry or Spanish classroom? No.

Will there be greater demand? Of course there will be. It’s brand, spanking NEW, not old and crappy. Maybe 5000-10000 people a day ride past on BART. Some of them are awake. Some might look out the window and think “Wow! a new field! maybe my team could play there.”

“Vastly improved”?… I hope so. It’s NEW. Limiting use to “neighbors and citizens in the district”? If that means El Cerrito neighbors and people who live in Albany: No, not feasible and maybe illegal.

Will there be increased use compared to recent historic use levels? Probably, yes. It’s NEW. Baseball played after dark? No, too dangerous.

Of course there are guidelines and binding limits on renting the field. To say anything else is factually incorrect. Please read the documents detailing the settlement of the lawsuit brought by the city of El Cerrito. The circus will not be allowed. Cirque de Solei will not be appearing anytime soon. Please read the EIR.

The facility will close at dusk except for school use. If people are using the fields for any purpose after dusk, it may be necessary to call the police. Exactly like in years past. There will also be a caretaker, on site, asking to see proper permits and asking non-scheduled, organized “outside groups” to leave. Just as it should be.

And many thanks to the anonymous reader for correcting my grammar mistake!

It is important to note that “outside groups” and individuals have been using the facility until dusk for decades. I hope and expect local people (that’s who the outside groups are) will continue to exercise and compete until dusk.

Lastly: a correction. The current plan, the plan that is being built, calls for only four 70′ light poles, not eleven. Playing lights for the baseball field were eliminated from the plans last year. Security lights on much shorter poles are being installed; it would be irresponsible to build this facility without security lighting.

The rule in English is that one uses “less” for things one cannot count (e.g., “less peace,” “less courage,” “less happiness”) and “fewer” for things one can count (e.g., “fewer annoying email messages”).