'If You Build It …'

Baseball field on Poway man’s own property draws political ire

By RON DONOHO

Updated 10:39 AM PST, Mon, May 4, 2009

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In the 1989 movie “Field of Dreams,” James Earl Jones intones: “If you build it, he will come.” The line gives you shivers. It explains the irrational rational behind Kevin Costner’s Ray Kinsella character building a baseball field in the middle of his Iowa corn field.

Flash--forward to present day. Poway resident Jonathan Weisz has built a regulation-size Little League baseball field on his property. His 12-year-old triplet sons are baseball enthusiasts. But the lesson learned in real life is this: If you build it, they will try to dismantle it.

The Poway City Council believes it can require Weisz to remove such a “recreational facility,” even though it’s on private property. Weisz’s lawyer argues the ball field is an “accessory use” of his own land.

Weisz had earlier been turned down when he sought to build a facility with dugouts and lights. After the Poway City Council said no, Weisz built the scaled-back version. No neighbors have complained. Kids come from all over to play on the field -- including the progeny of former Major Leaguers Phil Nevin and David Justice.

Weisz believes the City Council is afraid his field could become a tourist attraction and bring unwanted traffic into the area. A self-proclaimed "private guy," Weisz said that is not his intention.

"This is my property," he said. "If I know the kids, or my kids know them, they can play here. There are kids here from 4-7 p.m. every day. My only goal is to help my kids try to some say make the baseball team at Poway High."

Most of us know how the movie “Field of Dreams” turns out. The out-of-place diamond becomes a magical spot where a father and son rediscover the bond that “having a catch” brings. In an era when too many kids are indoors playing video game sports, can’t we champion acts like Weisz’s? Can somebody spare their next Netflix pick and send a copy of “Field of Dreams” to the Poway City Council?

Ron Donoho, formerly executive editor of "San Diego Magazine," is a regular contributor to NBCSandiego.com who covers local news, sports, culture and happy hours.

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