-Editorial
The controversy surrounding the baseball fields at Cordova Park has sparked passionate debate among local residents, with community voices calling for transparency and dialogue ahead of any final decision by the City of Calexico.
The issue centers on the three baseball fields at Cordova Park located on the east side of Calexico near Clinton Street, which are near completion but have yet to be officially opened. While some residents advocate for the fields to be demolished in favor of a multi-use regional park, others argue that the fields should be preserved and opened to the public as soon as possible.
On one side are residents of the neighborhoods surrounding Cordova Park, who pay a special Community Facilities District (CFD) tax to maintain the park. These residents claim they were promised a park with amenities when they purchased their homes. They argue that the baseball fields, which would only be used during Little League season, fall short of the inclusive, year-round public space they expected.
On the other side are baseball supporters who insist that baseball is one of Calexico’s most popular sports. They believe the fields—already built after years of planning and significant public investment—should not be demolished.
Interim City Manager Rick Daniels offered candid remarks this week on the ongoing questions surrounding Cordova Park, calling for transparency, community involvement, and adherence to city planning regulations.
Daniels clarified that the park was part of the original subdivision approval. “The park was approved in the very beginning when that subdivision was approved,” he said. “What was built should reflect that original plan.”
He noted that the city is obligated to comply with its zoning code. If any changes were made after approval, Daniels said, the city—as the owner—should have formally amended the plan. “That would have triggered an engagement process with the local community,” he said. “It would’ve given the public a chance to weigh in—first, on whether that’s even the right place for what was built, and second, to minimize impacts on surrounding residents.”
As of now, Daniels said he has not found documentation showing that such a community process occurred. “I’ve yet to find that level of input,” he said.
Addressing rumors of legal action, Daniels was direct: “I can confirm that there is no pending litigation against the city relating to Cordova Park. If someone is saying otherwise, that’s simply not true.”
Daniels also expressed concern about the financial implications for Calexico, a city with limited resources. “It would be a shame to have to demolish or deconstruct improvements that are already there,” he said. “But what’s there had to have been legally built. If not, we need to do something about it—beyond just finding ways to light up the city.”
Councilmember Lisa Tylenda explained the legal and financial complexities tied to the project.
“It’s complex. It’s tied to a CFD,” Tylenda said, referring to the Community Facilities District that funded the development. “Which is tied to a bond. The city is the bond administrator. What does that mean? We have to oversee how the money is spent and what it’s spent on—because it’s tied to legalities, as everything is.”
Tylenda acknowledged the challenges in facing the consequences of past decisions. “It’s really difficult to sit up here and have to deal with the past mismanagement of public funds,” she said. “And then have people come and say, ‘Oh, the park’s getting torn down.’ It’s not—we don’t know what’s going to happen yet. We’ll know soon.”
She emphasized that whatever was built did not match what was approved under the CFD, which raises serious concerns. “Is there a risk? Yeah, there’s always a risk. You can be sued for anything, any time.”
Tylenda made clear that the city’s goal is not to reduce infrastructure or invite legal trouble. “That’s never the goal. At least not for me as a council member.”
She concluded by saying the City Manager and staff are actively reviewing the matter: “We want to know the timeline—what happened, what transpired, and what legally has to be done to correct it if something was done incorrectly.”
Mayor Diana Nuricumbo addressed the public’s frustrations and laid out steps the city is taking to support the community while seeking solutions.
“We’ve been holding meetings with the school board—not secretly, but in coordination—because we know there’s a problem,” Nuricumbo said. “The reason the school district agreed to loan out Kiki Camarena and Willie Moreno fields is because we asked. We asked them to help us help our community.”
The mayor emphasized that the issues surrounding Cordova Park did not begin with the current council. “This didn’t start with us. It started over ten years ago. But we’re here trying to fix it—we’re fixing the water issue, addressing New River maintenance, and now, what happened with that park.”
Nuricumbo pushed back on criticism that the city is not doing enough for youth and families. “We’re being accused of not supporting our children, but it’s the complete opposite. Council member (Lorenzo) Calderon even worked with IID to get the valves installed so we could use Reisen Field. We are looking at other options.”
She also underscored the broader impact on local homeowners. “It’s not just about the leagues. It’s also about the 400 to 500 residents in that area who didn’t get what they were promised when they bought their homes.”
Addressing legal concerns, Nuricumbo made the city’s stance clear: “We haven’t received any attorney letters. But the moment we do, we start spending our money. We want to avoid that. We want to protect every penny our residents contribute.”
Councilmember Adriana Marquez shared details about a recent meeting she held with Calexico Little League President Jessica Gonzalez to discuss park use and concerns from local families.
“We had a very good conversation,” Marquez said, noting that City Manager Daniels and Councilmember Victor Legaspi also attended the meeting. “I think we’re all starting to understand what the Little League is asking for, but we also have to be very careful when it comes to legal matters tied to Cordova.”
Marquez emphasized the importance of learning from past city decisions. “We want to make sure that if any councilmembers in prior years made a mistake, we don’t repeat it. That’s why we’re being so cautious.”
While many residents have called for immediate access to fields and facilities, Marquez said the city is proceeding with both care and accountability. “It would be easy to just say, ‘Let them play,’ and we understand that,” she said. “But we also want to do right by our citizens and not get the city deeper into a legal or financial hole.”
Marquez thanked the community for its patience and reaffirmed the council’s commitment to resolving the issue responsibly.
