Ford Field: Where will families park?

As the Alpine/West Menlo Little League's opening day approaches, parents and league officials are wondering what sort of parking will be available at Ford Field in Portola Valley, one of the league's primary venues.

The town has dumped in the parking lot 10,000 cubic yards of mud and debris cleared from roads in the storms.

While parents have complained about the outsize pitcher's mound covering the parking lot, Town Administrator Alex McIntyre says he had no choice: "The rains have really made this a necessity."

Jim Kauffman, president of the Alpine league, doesn't disagree: "With the rains and all, in the last two months we haven't been the highest priority, and rightfully so."

Mr. Kauffman is looking for ways to move at least some of the dirt. "Even if we could move a little, so that 10 or 12 cars could park in the lot, it'd help," he says.

The town's current alternative parking plan, spearheaded by town engineer Betty Irvine, would enable parents to park at the portion of the field closest to Interstate 280. "There'll be a dirt parking lot there; when we're done using it, the field can revert to its natural state," Mr. Kauffman says. "Of course, if there's rain for a few consecutive days, the lot will be unusable."

With opening day set for Saturday, April 18, the league has sent out a flier to apprise parents of the parking situation, and will hire members of the Woodside Patrol to direct traffic along Alpine Road. The league is considering plans to stagger Saturday games at the field to limit the number of cars there at any one time.