Orange County is once again considering the construction of a 24,000 square foot recreation center on the open soccer fields at Barber Park, a space that has served as home to youth soccer for more than two decades and as a gathering place for families, players, and wildlife alike.

While we all value community recreation opportunities, this proposed facility would come at a significant cost to our neighborhood’s green space. The project, estimated at over $17 million in the County’s FY 2025–26 budget, would permanently remove the existing soccer fields and disrupt one of the few remaining open recreational areas in our community.

Additionally, Barber Park already faces drainage and flooding challenges, and further development could increase those risks. With eight new pickleball courts recently added to Downey Park, many residents are asking whether additional indoor courts or facilities are truly needed here, especially at the expense of long-standing youth programs and natural habitat.

We believe that meaningful community investment should enhance our existing assets, not eliminate them. Please help us protect Barber Park’s open fields, youth programs, and green space by adding your name to the petition to stop this development.

Together, we can ensure Barber Park remains a safe, open, and vibrant space for generations to come.