City of Fresno wins court decision, taking control of Granite Park in central Fresno

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A years-long legal battle over Granite Park in Central Fresno has come to an end -- a small victory for the City and its taxpayers.

"This is not a victory for them. We're going to keep fighting to get out voices heard," said Terance Frazier of the nonprofit Central Valley Community Sports Foundation who operates the sports complex.

On Friday, a court ruling sided with the City of Fresno that a part of the lease agreement between the City and the foundation had been breached.

The City now entitled to take possession of the sports complex.

"Both parties stipulated that the lease was violated and that we get possession back of Granite Park," said Georgeanne White, City Manager with the City of Fresno.

According to the Park's website, the land is owned by the City of Fresno.

Frazier is a Fresno State alum turned former MLB pro baseball player who runs the 20-acre park. According to the City, Frazier began leasing the sports complex in 2015.

"That park opened in 20-17. In 2018 the City started to try to take the park away," said Frazier.

City officials claim Frazier's foundation failed to provide billboard revenue and proper insurance coverage.

According to the City, the billboard which is visible from Highway 168 is part of the lease provision that has generated nearly a million dollars.

"The city is entitled to several hundred thousand dollars. And we've gotten zero. And when questioned about this in his deposition, the tenant acknowledged that the city was owned money, but he just didn't give it to us," said White.

White says the City has the same insurance requirements for everybody that does business with the City of Fresno.

"This tenant is the only one who seems to have difficulty getting the proper insurance. Every dollar that we have to pay in a lawsuit that has nothing to do with us is basically taking money away from our police and fire departments, our parks departments," said White.

White also cites safety concerns following a grass fire along Highway 168 that was allegedly sparked by a firework from last year's Fourth of July fireworks event hosted at the Park. According to White, the event was not permitted by the City.

"Thank goodness that no people or no buildings were damaged in that, because without proper insurance, if there was something that went wrong, the city taxpayers would have been on the hook, because the tenant didn't have the proper insurance," said White.

Frazier remains committed to continue his fight for ownership of the sports complex.

"I don't think it's over. I mean it's like a baseball game. It's not the ninth inning," said Frazier.

The City will honor existing reservation agreements for baseball and soccer events that have already received confirmation documents.

Meantime, Frazier told Action News he plans to appeal Friday's ruling.

The City is now preparing for that hearing on June 12.

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