Fullerton Residents Protest Over Kids' Access To Soccer Field

FULLERTON (CBSLA.com) — Hundreds of Fullerton parents and children protested in front of the City Council Tuesday night because the kids' access to a soccer field was taken away—but the demonstration was about more than just a game.

The Blue Stars Futbol Club coach told City Council candidate Rick Alvarez that the city asked his players to temporarily practice elsewhere while the field at Richman Park was being renovated.

However, when the soccer field reopened, he said Fullerton gave it away to a different team.

"Their point is they were promised that field would come back to them. There are a lot of good people in these neighborhoods. They don't want the drugs, they don't want the gangs, they want a good, clean neighborhood," said Alvarez.

Fullerton officials said the coach missed a permit application deadline, so the field went to another league.

Parents want the field back as soon as possible, mostly because they believe soccer keeps their children out of trouble.

"We don't want to have the kids on the street not doing any activity...we don't want the kids going to the criminal activity," said Gino Ramos.

Protestor Nestor Hernandez said, "It just starts with one park, then it leads to another and another, then kids start joining gangs, then drugs, which leads to a community that's destroyed."

The City Council heard public comment on the soccer field issue, but took no action at the end of the night.