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Visit us online at smdp.com MONDAY,APRIL 30, 2007 Volume 6 Issue 144 Santa Monica Daily Press RANDY THE PATRIOT SEE PAGE 13 Since 2001: A news odyssey THE IN A DESERT FAR, FAR AWAY ISSUE Airport park a mixed bag BY KEVIN HERRERA Daily Press Staff Writer
SM AIRPORT A seldom explored corner of Santa Monica came alive Sunday as hundreds of families flocked to the opening of Airport Park, eight-acres of open space that fea- tures the city’s first synthetic-turf soccer field, its third dog park, a children’s playground and a picnic area complete with massive grills for barbequing. Parents sat in the shade and watched as their kids climbed on a jungle gym, tossed footballs through the air or frolicked with the family dog. Others spread out blankets on the soft grass and listened to music from the Belle Air Brass as lines formed for free food from local eateries. Elected officials along with city staff were also on hand to share in the festivities as Santa Monica celebrated the first new city-built park to open in 24 years, a great accomplish- ment considering the lack of open space and high cost of land within the city limits. “This is just beautiful,” said Deanna Hagan, who grew up a few blocks away from the Santa Monica Airport and remembers the area being relatively deserted. She was sur- prised to see so much activity in a place where she once was prohibited from going as a teen, and in fact had been busted by airport security for trespassing.
SEE PARK PAGE 12 Adults get a kick BY DAILY PRESS STAFF
AIRPORT PARK City Hall is looking to fill a void. Thanks to the opening of the new, eight-acre Airport Park, there now is enough room to begin an adult soccer program. The new park includes a three-acre, synthetic turf soccer field with lights that will allow adults to play at night during non-peak hours, said Barbara Stinchfield, City Hall’s direc- tor of Community and Cultural Services. The lack of available space and the high demand for the youth soccer program has made it difficult to host an adult soccer program in the city. “Nearly 2,500 youth participated in a soccer program in the city last year, yet once these youth become adults, they are left no opportunity for organized play,” a report to the City Council states. Scheduled to begin in late spring of this year and run approximately 10 weeks, the Adult Soccer League pilot pro- gram will complement the city’s existing adult basketball, volleyball, and softball leagues, which have approximately 4,200 participants. Fabian Lewkowicz [email protected] The pilot will be operated by the Community Programs UP, DOGGY: Sara Winter plays tug-of-war with Scout, an Australian Cattle dog, in the new dog park at the Santa Monica Airport Park on Sunday. Some Los Angeles residents believe they should have access to the canine portion of the city park as well. SEE SOCCER PAGE 11 Gary Limjap VONS RALPHS ALBERTSONS AND OTHER LOCAL RETAILERS UP TO 90% TAXES (310) 586-0339 ALL FORMS, ALL TYPES, ALL STATES ON YOUR NEXT AUDITS • BACK TAXES • BOOKKEEPING • SMALL BUSINESS It’s all about you... The client SAVE SAMUEL B. MOSES, CPA SAVE GROCERY BILL GROCERY BILL (310) 395-9922 100 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1800 www.iCanShop4Less.com Santa Monica 90401 you Calendar Do look this happy while working out? 2 MONDAY, APRIL 30, 2007 A newspaper with issues
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