More plans for Rizal

The transformation of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex into a top-class facility for athletes, coaches, officials and fans is happening with amazing efficiency and pace. At the moment, over 1,300 walkers and joggers are enjoying the track oval surrounding the football field for free as PSC has opened the stadium doors to the public everyday from 3pm to 10pm. The numbers double on weekends. There are talks involving FIFA and PFF to renovate the football arena and when plans are finalized, PSC has in mind to find an alternative path for walkers and joggers.

The word is FIFA may foot most of the bill for the renovation and it could amount to about $15 million. Aside from laying out a world-class field, the plan includes constructing a roof to shelter 25,000 fans where the existing shed is for only 3,000. An alternative path for walkers and joggers could be the overhead linear park now in the blueprint stage as a collaborative project of PSC and SM Prime Holdings. The linear park is conceived to be the walking/jogging pathway envisioned to run along the creek traversing Rizal and De La Salle University, connecting the LRT on Taft to the former Harrison Plaza, renamed SM City Harrison. It’s an ambitious project but SM’s vision is to join hands with PSC in enhancing Rizal’s accessibility to parking and restaurant options as a vibrant hub.

PSC also plans to transform the Rizal Memorial Coliseum into a viable center court for world-class tennis with a retractable ceiling and an additional seating capacity of 5,000. The plan has been discussed with WTA officials and will be the clincher in bringing over a 500 or 1000 tournament to the country.

The baseball field is another target for a makeover and the budget could breach P400 million. The coverage will be the field, scoreboard, stands, bullpen and lockerroom facilities. For years, the field was in an awful state with pockets of grass peering out of a dirt turf. The surface has now undergone a facelift. The stadium is where baseball greats Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig cracked homeruns during an exhibition game on Dec. 2, 1934 and there are markers on the outfield walls commemorating the historic feats. Behind the giant scoreboard, facing the entrance of the tennis courts, across a walking pathway is a 50 foot-by-50 foot mural that was executed by artist Archie Oclos in four days. The mural opens into a gateway leading to the baseball stands. It depicts images of Robert Jaworski, Hidilyn Diaz, Alex Eala, Manny Pacquiao and Carlos Yulo and representative athletes from swimming, football and baseball. The mural is a popular photo spot among fans. Clearly, there is no stopping the transformation of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex and it’s a continuing effort to preserve and enhance a national monument.