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Politics & Government

Ramona Community Park Lighting Project Raises Concerns from Neighbors

Nearby residents say they were not notified of the addition of 17 light poles at four fields at the park. They want an opportunity to have input in the project.

A proposed lighting project for four of the fields at Ramona Community Park has some of the neighbors concerned about the effect it will have on the surrounding private properties. Ramona Municipal Water District Board of Directors heard comments at the April 12 meeting from several residents active with park activities and a few nearby property owners.

Mark Pack, treasurer of Ramona Sports Association, said the purpose of the lighting is to make it safer for the youngsters who are playing in games that continue after dark.

“It’s to address the safety issues we run into with the kids playing baseball,” Pack said, adding that the lighting will not be the same as what is already installed at other fields in the park.

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“Our lighting is a lot different than the other baseball fields,” Pack said, explaining the new lights will point downward and should not have a direct effect on neighboring properties.

The project originally called for 20 light poles but has since been cut back to 17 by the county, Pack added. The project is funded in part by a $150,000 grant from the Park Land Dedication Ordinance (PLDO) and a $300,000 grant from County Supervisor Dianne Jacob’s office from the Neighborhood Reinvestment Program.

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Milan Dimich, who lives on Elm Street across from the park, said the property owners around the park were never notified of the lighting project. Dimich, a Ramona resident since 1967, lost his house in the 2007 Witch Creek fire. He said the addition of lights in the park would have been taken into consideration when plans were drawn to rebuild his house if he had been aware of the project.

“We’re not against the kids,” Dimich said. “We’re not against the lights. ... We never got a chance for input.”

Dimich’s son, Milan C. Dimich, who lives in La Jolla but owns the property adjacent to his father’s on Elm Street, suggested planting vegetation in the park would help reduce the amount of light shining away from the park. He also asked that another study be conducted before the lighting project goes forward. There should be limits placed on the time and hours the lights would be in use, he said.

Sheila Davis, a resident on Cedar Street, said she also was not aware of the lighting project.

“We moved to Ramona 19 years ago,” she said. “We were tired of the hustle and bustle and city lights down in San Diego.”

She stressed she is in support of the youth sports programs at the park but doesn’t think the lights should be used for the adult tournaments.

“It should not be a big for-profit venture,” she said. “Make it for the kids that live in Ramona.”

Pack offered to help the neighbors with mitigation with the lighting at the other baseball fields and find ways to come up with a solution for the bright lights. He re-emphasized the new lights will be pointed downward and are not the same as what is already there.

“I will help Mr. Dimich get the grant money from the county,” Pack said.

Milan C. Dimich said he will “take up Mr. Pack on his offer.”

“The park has been here a number of years, and it’s been up to us to self-police,” Milan C. Dimich said.

The water board did not need to take action on the lighting project since it had been approved previously; however, the board did approve an amendment to the Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement between RMWD and the county of San Diego for improvements at Ramona Community  Park. The amendment was to accept the $150,000 PLDO funds for the lighting project.

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