Beginning in July, Gavilan Sports Park will be under the
complete control of Gavilan College, a change from the school’s
long-standing, joint-use agreement with the City of Gilroy.
Gilroy – Beginning in July, Gavilan Sports Park will be under the complete control of Gavilan College, a change from the school’s long-standing, joint-use agreement with the City of Gilroy.
The city and the college entered into an agreement 20 years ago that allowed the city to use Gavilan’s recreational fields for city-sponsored recreation programs. In exchange, the city was responsible for constructing and maintaining the fields, which Gavilan uses for collegiate athletic games and practices.
Gavilan Sports Park, located on three acres at the south end of the campus, includes softball and baseball fields as well as an open grass play area and play field.
In a couple of years, however, the city will have its own sports park, greatly reducing its dependence on Gavilan’s facility. The Gilroy Sports Park is slated for 63 acres just west of Monterey Road and south of Luchessa Avenue.
The city still will be able to use Gavilan’s fields for recreational purposes until July 2007, when the Gilroy Sports Park is scheduled to be ready for use. In return, the city will pay Gavilan for the costs of utilities and other expenses necessary for city-sponsored activities. Gavilan will not charge the city rent.
Among the various uses the city has for the fields are an adult soft program and a youth spring soccer league.
Gavilan President Steve Kinsella and City Administrator Jay Baksa met over the past few months to discuss terms of the agreement, which goes into effect July 1. The college is considering hiring at least a part-time grounds person to its maintenance department to help maintain the fields.
The roughly $35- to $40-million Gilroy Sports Park will contain 12 lighted multi-purpose fields, informal recreational areas, a Uvas Creek trail extension to Gavilan College, amenities to host large-group events, a commercial area and perhaps a covered, lighted roller hockey/soccer arena and a batting cage. Several acres will be preserved as open space.
