Well maintained soccer fields and facilities surf sports park Del Mar is surrounded by nature preserves and luxury homes.
This scene is picturesque in many ways, but paradise comes with a problem.
“We're going to have 400,000 to 500,000 people come here in a year, with traffic congestion, noise issues and pollution,” said local resident Larry Pollack.
He lives near a park, which overlooks fields.
Pollack said fields used to be open public spaces, but they no longer feel that way.
He said the problem had become particularly pronounced since 2016. surf sports We have taken over the operation of the site from the San Diego Polo Club.
“What they've done here is they've decided to make this almost like a West Coast headquarters,” Pollack said.
For surf sports, 28 year lease Work with the City of San Diego, which owns the property.
“We have invested approximately $5 million into this property to transform it from a horse property to one of the best youth sports facilities in the country,” Surf Sports Chief Operating Officer Brian Enge said.
Charlotte Radulovich
/
KPBS
According to Surf Sports' website, the company hosts “more than 35 events in San Diego” each year, drawing people from all over the country. It also said the company is “one of the city's largest and most successful event organizers.”
But neighbors and some groups are upset about the frequency, scale and commercial nature of activities and events on the property.
They said this was in violation of the land lease and the original delivery deed. The Fairbanks Polo Club Homeowners Association, which surrounds the park, is suing the city over the park.
Mr. Pollack is not a party to the lawsuit, but agrees with its contents.
“I think the City of San Diego is just as accountable, if not more so, because the City of San Diego understands and acknowledges what is in the lease. ,” Pollack said.
According to the complaint, the offenders frequently hold events, up to 200 days a year. The lease agreement only allows events for 25 days a year.
KPBS asked Enge about that number. Although he doesn't have exact numbers, he said Surf Sports has allowed other groups to use the park and there has been an overall positive impact.
“We bring people here to town, which creates hotel rooms, jobs and economic impact,” Enge said. “We help kids chase their dreams. I have a hard time understanding what's wrong with that.”
Pollack said he is concerned that the park has become a venue for major sports and events, which are limited to the extent permitted by the land grant, which is “with the gathering of large numbers of people and vehicles.'' There are no non-commercial recreational uses.
So do others in the community. Friends of the San Dieguito River Valley President Maggie Brown agrees.
“It should really be used as a park,” she says.
Her group sued the city over use of the field in 2016, but lost.
Brown said there is sensitive wetland habitat throughout the region.
“All the wildlife corridors are fenced off. Birds stay away from it. It's really damaging to the environment,” Brown said of the current operations at the park.
Over the past few years, Surf Sports has previously been accused of illegally channeling rainwater and issued civil penalty notices for unauthorized grading and reclamation.
Enge said environmental concerns have been addressed, but Brown is concerned about further expansion efforts. This also includes adjacent land that will become a youth sports complex.
“What they've done there is an intensification of commercial use, which is specifically not allowed by the grant deed for the land they're on,” Brown said.
Enge said the size and intensity of the event has not increased over time and that the company strives to comply with all aspects of the contract.
“We've had the same number of fields for years. Same size properties. You can't have more teams in the same event with the same type of field and daylight hours.” Enge said.
Since 2022, part of the field at Surf Sports Park has been used by the local women's professional soccer team. San Diego Wave FC. This further increases the problem of public access and commercial use at the site, according to the lawsuit.
Enge said land use concerns come from a “small but vocal minority” who want “peace and tranquility in their neighborhoods.”
“It's never too early or too late for an event. We let them know when we have an event. We want to be respectful and be good neighbors,” Enge said. .
The park is in San Diego City Councilman Joe LaCava's district. We reached out to him, the mayor's office, and the city attorney's office, but all said they could not comment on pending litigation.
However, the City Attorney's Office told KPBS that the trial date is scheduled for March 14, 2025.
