Bocce Group Makes Second Request For A Fence Around The Courts

To fence or not to fence — that will be the question today when officials from the city and East Bay Regional Park District meet. In addition to an update on the marina, the Zocchi property and Waterfront Park improvements, the panel will hear a request from members of the Martinez Bocce Federation for permission to construct a four-foot chain link fence around the bocce courts at Waterfront Park.

The federation requested a fence last year, but it was denied by the park district.

Proponents say that the fence would save the group substantial amounts of money they spend repairing damage to the courts from various non-bocce users. Opponents say that a fence sends the wrong message to the public.

"The bocce courts are located next to some of the most active areas of Waterfront Park," said recreation manager Mitch Austin. "People take shortcuts through the courts. Skateboarders like it because they have the coldest water at that fountain. The courts get impacted on a regular basis. It increases their maintenance about 20 percent."

"We're asking for a four-foot green cyclone fence because of the damage occurring to the courts by kids on bicycles riding through there, people dragging tables the length of the courts — we've had horses trampling through there during rodeos. And that's just some of the damages," said Ray Gaudenzi, Martinez Bocce Federation president. "They are the finest bocce courts in the country. Not in the city, not in the county, not in the state — in the country. It costs us $17,000 a year to maintain those courts. Every time someone messes them up, it costs us a little more."

But East Bay Regional Park District board member Ted Radke said he does not like the idea of a cyclone fence.

"It would make it look more exclusive," he said, "make it appear like people weren't welcome there."

He said that he has been contacted by a number of people, including former MBF board members, who oppose the cyclone fence. A two-rail wooden fence with four entrances would be an acceptable alternative, he said, if there has to be a fence.

"Kids would wind up playing on something like that and getting hurt," Gaudenzi said. "The ballfields have a cyclone fence, the skateboard park has a cyclone fence."

The park district owns the waterfront park area, but leases the eastern portion of the facility to the city, which in turn leases the bocce courts to the MBF.

Radke said he doesn't believe a fence will end vandalism.

"In the end," he said, "a fence won't stop people from going in there and messing things up."

The Martinez Shoreline Joint Planning Agency meeting takes place today at 3 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 525 Henrietta St.