Long-standing youth baseball league loses fields in fight over Reid-Hillview Airport in East San Jose

Long-standing youth baseball league loses fields in fight over Reid-Hillview Airport in East San JosePhoto Credit: Eastridge Little League/Facebook
Wesley Severson
Published on February 25, 2022

Eastridge Little League is now scrambling to find a new place to play baseball after getting caught in the crosshairs over a years-long battle over Reid-Hillview Airport in East San Jose. Santa Clara County has been pushing to close the airport for years because of fears over lead contamination from the fuel that is used in the small planes that have been flying in and out of the facility which dates back to the 1930s. 

The Federal Aviation Administration has been fighting with the county to keep the airport open but essentially lost that battle after the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted in 2018 to stop accepting federal grants that help pay for airport operations. That decision will lead to the closure of Reid-Hillview around the year 2031 after the lock-up period for the last federal grant expires. In November of 2020, Hoodline reported on the push to eventually transform the area into housing once the facility is shut down. 

For the last 50 years, Eastridge Little League has been hosting games on the baseball fields on Reid-Hillview properties for kids ages seven to 15. Earlier this month, county officials told the league they would have to stop hosting games on March 28 while giving Eastridge Little League three months to clear out all of their baseball equipment and belongings. The county is blaming the closure on lead contamination from aviation fuel and FAA regulations.


Photo Credit: Eastridge Little League/Facebook

 

"Heartbroken, I played there my whole life. It’s kind of emotional for me. It’s really hard,” Eastridge Little League coach and former player Johnny Cisneros told the Mercury News. It’s unclear who made the final call to close the fields with the FAA blaming Santa Clara County and vice versa. “The FAA did NOT request that the Eastridge Little League relocate from its current location. In fact, we work with airports on these issues frequently to find a solution that works for everyone,” FAA spokeswoman Marcia Alexander-Adams told the Mercury News.

County Supervisor Cindy Chavez fired back. “That’s not what they told me. They directly told me it was a violation of our contract with them to have non-airport uses on that site,” Chavez told the Mercury News but she did offer a glimmer of hope. “We know we have the risk of children poisoned by lead. We want the children to be safe. So we’re working closely with the city of San Jose to make sure they have a clean place to play.” 

 


Photo Credit: Eastridge Little League/Facebook

 

Either way, Eastridge Little League is the losing party but they are trying to make the best of it. According to its Facebook page, the league will be holding a 50th Anniversary celebration at the Reid-Hillview fields on March 26th, marking their last ever Opening Day Ceremony with a big parade with live music. They’re also asking former players and coaches to come out to speak about their favorite moments and memories. The final games at the fields will happen on the next day.