Little league caught in dispute with Upland, Ontario over use of field

UPLAND, Calif. (KABC) -- The Upland National Little League is caught in a dispute between its city and the city of Ontario over the use of a baseball field.

The lights are on, and the turf is almost ready, but as the older kids practice on the baseball field at Olivedale Park, the tee-ballers are getting ready just outside the fence, in the public park next door.

The mix-up is happening because the field they usually play on has been fenced off and locked up - unusable for play.

Kristy Webb has a 4-year-old in tee-ball said playing ball in a park with no fence is scary.

"Keeping a bunch of 4 and 5-year-olds paying attention without a fence is troublesome," she said.

League president Mike Butler said the fence went up a few weeks ago.

"At first, I had my son, and his eyes started watering like he had no idea where he was going to play," he said.

There is nothing wrong with the field itself. The problem is due to the fact that it is in the city of Upland but is owned by the city of Ontario.

The two cities are in an ongoing dispute over the value of the nearby Whispering Lakes Golf Course and have yet to come to an agreement.

As a result, when Upland's lease on the baseball field expired, no deal was made with Ontario to renew it.

Ontario said the fence had to go up because of liability concerns.

Community members said the problem is not just finding another place to play ball, they're also no longer able to make sales out of that snack bar.

The league is now wondering how they are going to stay financially afloat.

"You guys can deal with your situation as adults together and not take it out on kids," said parent Julie Elder. "I don't think it's fair at all."

Until the two cities can reach a deal, all of the kids who use the baseball field are out.

Neither officials from Upland or Ontario were available for interviews.