My family moved to Irvine in 1978. I am proud of the parks our kids play in. The sports fields are immaculate.

We’ve all read the articles about the future plans for the Great Park. None of them have ever seemed real to me until I viewed the proposal that FivePoint Communities offered.

This is a real offer with real benefits that can have an immediate impact on our city. FivePoint Communities has offered the city of Irvine $174 million to build a sports park, 18-hole golf course, Upper Bee Canyon and a wildlife corridor.

In addition, they will cover the operation and maintenance of the park for 10 years. I don’t know about you, but if someone offered to completely build out an open lot that I owned, improve the land’s value while giving me something to enjoy for 10 years at no cost … I’m going to take that deal.

It’s time for our city to live up to its promise of building us a “world-class sports complex.”

How many of you with youth soccer players travel to Lancaster every month and spend the weekend in a hotel while your child plays in a tournament?

For the baseball players, isn’t it time we have a complex that can host a major tournament that we’ve all had to travel to different cities and states to attend?

Let us not forget the facility can also host football, lacrosse, tennis, volleyball, etc. The possibilities are endless. Why shouldn’t Irvine take advantage of this tax revenue that will be spent at our local hotels and restaurants from these out-of-town visitors?

Think about it – we get the benefit of the tax revenue without having to incur any expenses for 10 years. That sounds like a “no-brainer” to me.

In my dealings within the youth sports arena, this City Council has always been supportive of the progression and success of youth sports in Irvine. I’ve always appreciated seeing them at opening-day ceremonies and have enjoyed watching them honor the many successes our sports groups have at their City Council meetings.

We live in what I believe is the greatest community in America. Our community deserves the greatest sports complex and park that is possible.

– Mike Filia is a former president of Irvine Pony Baseball and is the current president of Irvine Chargers Youth Football, Irvine High School Football Boosters and Irvine High School Baseball Boosters.