The Española City Council Sept. 25 unanimously approved preliminary plans for construction of two softball fields on Industrial Park Road located across from the North Central Solid Waste Authority office.
“This is just step one of what this area can produce for our kids,” Councilor Robert Seeds said. Seeds said he would like to have T-ball fields also built at the site in the future.
Architect Marvin Brandstetter donated the majority of his time spent designing the Española Valley Softball Park,
“I lived here all my life and I was raised in Santa Cruz,” Brandstetter said in an Oct. 2 phone interview. “I just felt like I should give a little back. I figured these kids need the softball fields and if that can keep them out of trouble, then it’s worth it.”
Brandstetter said the city could have more room to develop the park if the 40-foot-deep arroyo located on site were filled.
Recreation Director Len Cata said he will seek cost estimates to add lighting fixtures to at least one of the two softball fields. Plans call for construction of two regulation-sized softball fields with outfield dimensions of 300 feet to right, center and left fields. The infield will consist of traditional red clay dirt. The distance between bases will be 65 feet and the distance from the pitcher’s circle to home plate will be 46 feet.
Aside from the two softball fields, the Española Valley Softball Park will also feature a concession stand, rest rooms, a storage center and parking facilities.
In other business, the Council:
• Approved a $2,828 payment to Advanced Communication to make the Española/Rio Arriba E-911 Center narrow band compliant. According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) website, on Jan. 1, 2013, all public safety and business industrial land mobile radio systems operating in the 150-512 MHz radio bands must cease using 25 kHz efficiency technology and convert to at least a 12.5 kHz system.
The FCC’s website further states, the “narrowbanding” conversion has been instituted to ensure more efficient use of the radio spectrum for both public safety and non-public safety users. Narrowbanding will allow the FCC the flexibility needed to create additional channel capacity within the same radio spectrum, thereby supporting more users.
• Authorized by resolution for the Regional Development Corporation (RDC) to represent the city of Española in the New Mexico Economic Development’s Certified Community Initiative. The Corporation’s Executive Director Kathy Keith said the Corporation recruits businesses to relocate to this area. The resolution authorizes the Corporation to correspond with interested businesses on behalf of the city.
• Co-sponsored the Electric Light Parade set for Dec. 8. This year’s parade theme will be “North Pole Fantasy.”
• Mayor Alice Lucero appointed Councilor Elaine Herrera as alternate to the Regional Coalition of Los Alamos National Laboratory Communities Board.
• Lucero recognized the beautification efforts of the Downtown Action Team.