City Celebrates Improvements at Otis

Gordon Sports Park April 28th

DUARTE, CA, April 28, 2011 – It’s a potty party.  A grand opening and ribbon cutting will celebrate the newly completed restrooms at Otis Gordon Sports Park in Duarte. The festivities, Thursday, April 28, at 8:30 a.m., will be followed by the opening day softball game between the Duarte 66ers and Duarte D-Crew teams.

“Yes, in Duarte we celebrate everything, especially new community facilities made possible with the help of grant funds,” said Parks and Recreation Director, Donna Georgino.

The project was funded utilizing a portion of a $220,000 grant from the State of California 2002 Resources Bond Act. Installation of the prefabricated restroom facility at Otis Gordon Sports Park cost $130,000. Last year, the City utilized $50,000 of the grant to replace old playground equipment at Andres Duarte Satellite Park with new equipment that meets State and Federal guidelines for safety and accessibility.

The community has long awaited the installation of permanent restroom facilities at Otis Gordon Sports Park.  In 1995, the City of Duarte applied and received a $500,000 grant to renovate the sports field at Mt. Olive High School, later renamed Otis Gordon Sports Park, and the field at Andres Duarte Elementary School. But the grant funding was not adequate enough to allow for restrooms to be constructed. Up until now, park users have had to rely on portable facilities at the site provided by the City, an arrangement that Georgino notes has been less than desirable.

Otis Gordon Sports Park is one of the City of Duarte’s most popular and well-used parks. The five-acre park is used by senior citizens for their softball league, and by the Recreation Department for the summer t-ball league and spring youth mini soccer.  The sports park is also the home of the City’s adult softball program, and is used by many outside groups including DYAC, the Hawks, and Anita Oaks School.  The park is also available for rent by other organizations and individuals.  #