For years, Torrance American Baseball (TABB) Association has been a cherished piece of our Seaside neighborhood, with its fields providing an open green space for our community. However, late in the 2024 baseball season, TABB unexpectedly locked the pedestrian gates and driveway gates to the fields, preventing public access to the area.  

The TABB lease, which is currently up for renewal, calls for a mere $1.00 per year lease cost.  TABB is responsible for building maintenance, plus a share of water costs.  The lease amount is equivalent to a usage fee, not an ownership fee. By locking all the access gates, they have created a private park out of public space.  Access is available to homeowners that surround the park via their backyard gate access, and board members/neighbors who have keys and lock combinations.   They use it regularly in off season, when access is supposed to be open, for private coaching/practice sessions on the field—a benefit that was not intended by the lease access.

The City of Torrance has designated access times from 6:00 am until 10 pm, as stated on the signage posted on the driveway gates. Public access is allowed by the terms of their lease agreement Paragraph 6, which states that the City reserves the right to operate the Property as a public recreation facility whenever the Lessee is not using the property.  By terms of the lease, TABB is allowed 1 day in January, 5 days in February, season activities March-July and the first two weekends in August only.  NO PLAY ACTIVITIES  ALLOWED SEPTEMBER THRU DECEMBER—which by default should return the site to a public recreation facility.

Denying this access contradicts the agreements in place and the expectations set by the neighborhood in exchange for bearing with traffic, trash and parking issues during the spring and summer season.

Therefore, we call on the City of Torrance to enforce the public recreational access by ensuring that TABB unlocks and keep open their pedestrian gates at all times, allowing our community to benefit from these shared spaces as those before us have. Let us uphold the spirit of unity, openness, and community that baseball and our neighborhood represent. Please sign this petition to bring this vital issue to the City of Torrance council members for immediate resolution and inclusion in lease renewal discussions.

You can also call/email Aurelio Mattuci, District 5 council member at (310) 618-2801  AMattucci@TorranceCA.gov