I voted for Jeff Lalloway because he said he would bring change to the stagnation of the Great Park. He said once he got into office he would make sure we started within a year. I have been involved with youth and adult sports in Irvine since I moved here 27 years ago.

I have served on the Irvine Sports Committee for the last 12 years. All on the committee remember when Councilman Larry Agran presented the “World Class Sports Park” plan in 2006. In the last seven years, excitement has turned to frustration.

The plan includes a 165-acre sports park – one that is well-thought out and can accommodate various sports at one time. This will be a great gathering point for all of Orange County. Irvine will be a destination site for local and national games and tournaments.

Just as swimming has put Irvine on the map, the same and more from the Great Park will bolster our prestige in the country. These facilities will allow local teams to travel less and play at home more. This will be an economic boom for our small businesses in the area.

Talk of commercializing the park is way off. The city already has a fee structure in place for all organizations. FivePoint Communities is looking at keeping these same fees. All organizations would be in favor of that structure, thus ensuring no big jump in cost to teams.

I hope that Councilman Lalloway can be the deciding vote and be known as the one who made it happen. If not, he will be known as the one who broke his promise to the people of Irvine.

No more reviews, no more studies, no more political posturing. Let’s build the Great Park Now.

– Dick Owens has lived in Irvine for 27 years. He is an Irvine Sports Committee member.