Gulls May Make Short Flight To Camarillo in ’87

The Ventura County Gulls may be nestled snugly at Ventura College this season, but they are making plans to fly the coop to Camarillo.

The Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District will discuss tonight whether to authorize the building of a permanent stadium at Freedom Park in Camarillo, according to district board member Nancy Bush. The stadium, to be completed by 1987, would be used for youth and high school baseball games in addition to being the home field for the Gulls, who play in the Class-A California League.

“The proposal is for the district to spend $500,000 on a stadium,” Bush said. “It is very general with no specs or plans. I’m sure there will be a lot of discussion.”

The proposal, which includes provisions for lights and seating for 1,500 people, was made March 12 by the Camarillo Stadium Assn., a nonprofit group that has been trying to reach an agreement with public officials for nearly a year.

Jim Jevens, president of the association, said the proposal is for a first-class facility.

“We shot for the moon,” Jevens said. “It may be cut back by the district to something more affordable. If (the stadium association) needs to raise money to supplement what the district is willing to offer, we’re ready to do that.”

The district last April approved $250,000 toward the building of a stadium and in September authorized the first-year California League team the use of Freedom Park for two years. Financing necessary to augment the district’s donation fell through, however, so the team secured Ventura College as a temporary home.

“The $250,000 was contingent on the city donating $500,000,” Bush said. The present proposal has no such ties.

Upon the park district’s approval of a stadium, Jevens said the City of Camarillo may be contacted for additional aid. “The city would be invited to participate in some capacity,” he said.

Camarillo Mayor Sandi Bush said that a stadium and accompanying minor league franchise would be beneficial to the city.

“There would be recreational and financial benefits and it would be good for the image of the city,” she said.

However, youth soccer organizations that use Freedom Park are concerned about the site being turned into a baseball stadium.