A Wall of Recognition for local sports heroes?

Vista Hermosa Sports Park's baseball fields will not be named in memory of longtime youth-sports coach John Springman, the San Clemente City Council decided on a 5-0 vote Tuesday night.

Council members said they could revisit the request from Springman's family in 12 to 18 months but want to give the Friends of San Clemente Beaches, Parks and Recreation Foundation time to try to find a corporate sponsor to name the fields. Or there could be an alternative – a Wall of Recognition of sorts for local sports personalities.

Kurt Conone, a local resident who grew up in San Clemente while Springman was coaching, appealed to the council to grant the family's request and also to name a field for Sue Enquist, a UCLA Hall of Fame softball player and coach who grew up in town and credits Springman as her inspiration. She was among those who during the past year urged the city to name San Clemente's new $33 million sports park for Springman. The park opens Feb. 25 at 987 Avenida Vista Hermosa.

When the council instead chose to name it Vista Hermosa Sports Park, the Springman supporters asked the city to name the park's three baseball fields for him. Springman was instrumental in building San Clemente's Little League field at Vista Bahia Park in 1962.

"Do we really need to stick out our hands for everything?" Conone asked the council.

Councilman Tim Brown said he likes the idea of honoring deserving people but doesn't want to sabotage the foundation's efforts to market the fields.

Mayor Jim Evert said the city needs to recognize people such as Springman and Enquist, though he isn't sure this is the vehicle. He suggested the city dedicate a wall to San Clemente success stories in sports, such as Enquist, pro soccer player McCall Zerboni and San Clemente's pro surfers.

Evert said he had not known of Enquist's softball exploits until she was guest speaker at a recent city luncheon. "I was super impressed," the mayor said.

Councilman Jim Dahl said the wall could be a sports version of San Clemente's Wall of Recognition in the Community Center, where plaques salute people who have given to the community.

"There are many, many, many people who deserve recognition," City Manager George Scarborough said.

The Wall of Recognition was created by the City Council in the 1990s when the city received a flurry of requests to rename various parks and other facilities for people. The wall now has 29 plaques. Nominations are being accepted for this year's honorees. Call 949-361-8237.

Contact the writer: fswegles@ocregister.com or 949-492-5127