Fields

A permit is required to reserve a ball field. Field allocations are administered by the Community Services Department twice a year. A Group User Information Packet, forms, and applications are found and can be printed under Applications and Forms.


Soccer, Lacrosse and Cricket

Season Meeting Date Location Time All Paperwork Due
Fall July 10, 2019 Sports Park 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. July 25, 2019

Baseball and Softball

Season Meeting Date Location  Time All Paperwork Due
Fall July 10, 2019 Sports Park 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. July 25, 2019

Field Allocations

Sports Park Fields all are lighted facilities
1/2 of soccer fields will be allocated for practices

  • Gymnasium: One main court or two side courts
  • Synthetic Turf Fields: two soccer or lacrosse fields
  • Soccer Grass Fields: three fields
  • Baseball/Softball Grass Fields: five dedicated fields
  • Basketball Courts (indoor)

Non-Sports Park Fields
1/2 of soccer fields will be allocated for practices Heroes Park (Lighted): 4 baseball fields, soccer fields (small fields)

  • Regency Park: Soccer field
  • Borrego Park: Soccer field
  • Foothill Ranch Community Park: two baseball/softball fields, one soccer field
  • Baker Ranch Community Park: one baseball/softball field, one soccer area
  • Tamarisk Park: one baseball field
  • Rancho Serrano Park: one soccer area (small field)
  • Rimgate Park: One soccer area (small field)

Field Allocation Process

  • All paperwork is submitted to the City of Lake Forest by the established deadline.
  • Each league or team will be forwarded a copy of their field permits and a copy of their field allocation grouping, including the fees being assessed and estimated billing (billed monthly).
  • Each team or league using City storage bins must complete a liability waiver. Storage bins will be allocated by priority level (group 2 to 8) and group size.
  • Percentage of Lake Forest residents will determine group classification number.
  • Total number of residents determines ranking within each group classification number.

Application Checklist

To participate in the field allocation process, a team or league must complete the following paperwork:

  • A team or league information card
  • A field reservation form, noting preferred practice or game times or requesting use of the batting cages.
  • Valid proof of insurance, with an endorsement certificate, conforming to the City's required coverage limits; $1 million dollar policy listing the City of Lake Forest as additionally insured.
  • All paperwork must be submitted by established deadlines (see table noted above).

An application can be denied if:

  • Requested amenities are not available;
  • The requested use is inconsistent with applicable laws/rules; or,
  • The requested use could be detrimental to the best interest of the City, as determined by the Director of Community Services.

Each applicant shall be at least 21 years of age and act or designate one person to act as the coordinator of all rental matters.

Proof of Residency (Groups 2, 3, 4 and 5)

Acceptable proof of residency must be submitted for all Lake Forest Residents. Residents of Foothill Ranch, Portola Hills and parts of Trabuco Canyon (92610, 92679 and 92630) will be recognized as Lake Forest residents. Proof of Residency includes a recent copy (within the past three months) of utility bill, SVUSD Aeries Portal printout, or a California Driver's License with a Lake Forest address. The Community Services Department reserves the right to request additional documentation, if the need arises. No league will be designated field allocations without proof of residency for all rosters. Leagues submitting fraudulent rosters are subject to the loss of all allocated time.

User Groups

Group 1 – Recreation activities sponsored or conducted by the City of Lake Forest or the Saddleback Valley Unified School District. Examples: City conducted or cosponsored citywide community events, leagues, or tournaments. Group 2 – Non-profit youth sports leagues open to the public with an "everyone plays" philosophy and a minimum of ninety (90) percent of participants being Lake Forest residents. In case of overlapping requests form Group 2 user groups for the use of the facilities, priority will be given to the one with the highest percentage of Lake Forest residents participating. Examples: Lake Forest AYSO soccer, Lake Forest area Little Leagues, Saddleback Pony/Bronco Leagues, Lake Forest NJB basketball, Lake Forest-based girls softball leagues.

Group 3 - Non-profit youth sports leagues or "travel ball" teams and a minimum of eighty (80) percent of participants being Lake Forest residents. Examples: Youth travel baseball, softball, soccer, football teams.

Group 4 – Non-profit youth sports leagues or teams and a minimum of seventy (70) percent of participants being Lake Forest residents. Examples: Youth travel baseball, soccer, football teams.

Group 5 – Non-profit adult or youth sports groups conducting community oriented sports activities with a minimum of sixty (60) percent of participants being Lake Forest residents. Examples: Adult Soccer, softball, youth club teams, private parties.

Group 6 – Non-profit organizations or groups, not open to the public, with less than sixty (60) percent of participants being Lake Forest residents. Examples: Adult or youth club teams, private parties, local churches, local homeowners' associations.

Group 7 – Commercial entities or organizations located in Lake Forest. Example: Local businesses

Group 8 – Commercial entities or organizations not located in Lake forest. Examples: Business not located in Lake Forest, film shoots, parties, events. (Ord. 168, 2007)

Hourly Athletic Sports Field User Rates

Classification
Group 
1
Group 
2
Group
3
Group 
4
Group 
5
Group
6
Group
7
Group
8
Non-Lighted
No Charge
$5/participant
$10
$15
$15
$25
$25
$40
Lighted
No Charge
$5/participant
$15
$25
$25
$35
$40
$60

All ball field fees will be billed on a monthly basis. Payments must be made by check or cash to the City of Lake Forest. Payments will be considered delinquent 30 days after the invoice is issued. Organizations submitting late payments will jeopardize their ability to use City of Lake Forest facilities in the future.

Sports field reservations that are unused are subject to a "no show" penalty as follows: 

1st offense: Written warning
2nd offense: $20.00 per sports field penalty
3rd offense: $35.00 per sports field penalty and potential loss of future sports field time.

General Policies

All field users are required to abide by the following general policies. Failure to abide by these policies may result in the revocation of current permits and denial of future field requests.

  • Applicant shall abide by all applicable laws including the prohibition of smoking and alcohol consumption.
  • The City is not responsible for personal injuries, lost, damaged or stolen property.
  • The City does not provide portable mounds, softball mats, and other sports equipment. Field maintenance (in-field dragging, watering or line placement) is the responsibility of the user group.
  • Insurance Requirements: All organizations, clubs, tournaments, and commercial groups renting a ball field must provide $1 million of liability insurance coverage for the permitted dates. A certificate of liability insurance and an endorsement letter naming the City of Lake Forest as additionally insured must be submitted at least three weeks in advance of the rental date. User groups that cannot provide the correct insurance documents will not be granted a permit.
  • Vehicles are not permitted to drive on City fields. This rule applies to teams and other program administrators who want to unload game equipment or supplies. Please plan on bringing dollies or wagons to carry equipment and supplies onto the park grounds.
  • Safety: Players warming up should not be stationed so that missed or overthrown balls can hit other park users. Any malfunctioning sprinklers, lights, or other mechanical park features should be reported to City staff immediately at (949) 949-273-6960. Please call 911 for emergencies. All group users are expected to be safety conscious at all times.
  • Scoreboard Use at the Sports Park: An $825.00 refundable deposit is required to use the scoreboards at the Sports Park fields. In addition, a current Scoreboard Agreement must be on file with the Community Services Department. After the last rental date has ended, the scoreboard deposit will be fully refundable, less any expenses to pay for damage to equipment. Damage to scoreboard controllers must be reported to Sports Park personnel immediately. Scoreboard controllers must be returned on a daily basis.
  • Inclement Weather Policy:
    • Weekdays – User groups will be notified by email of any field closures. Users may also call the weather hotline  at (949) 461-3595 after 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday of any field closure updates.
    • Weekends – User groups will be notified by phone of any field closures. Users may also call the weather hotline  at (949) 461-3595 by 7:30 a.m. Please make sure that group users contact all coaches to relay closure  information.