4/24/2025
I thought I had a pretty good understanding of the situation. Paul Cash has said his “campaign guy” sent the text message, Paul told me that he couldn’t substantiate it, but somehow Saji George had delayed our parks development for years because Saji wanted to put a cricket field on Jobson, or a complex of cricket fields on Samuell North park. And Paul said he felt this was the “elephant in the room” that needed to be addressed.
Has anyone asked Saji George whether he even likes cricket??
Saji George has denied all of this. Saji also provided evidence during the mayor debate that Paul Cash had misrepresented his record on the Tom Thumb grocery store vote (Saji voted for the grocery store, but in a separate vote made a protest vote against a site plan that would have put fast food instead of sit-down restaurants next to the grocery store). Until now, Paul has spread some very damaging claims about Saji without evidence to support it.
This afternoon, Councilmember Mark Eldridge made the same mistake we all have, by wading into this issue on Facebook. In all seriousness, Mark gave a very lengthy post describing in detail how he thinks Mayor Saji George has supported cricket fields, and how in July of 2024 he felt that the Mayor’s pursuit of development on Samuell North (which included cricket fields among many other fields) would slow down development of Jobson park. Here is the post from Mark in its entirety:
I included this in a response to another post, I’ve been asked to include it on the main thread as well.
I try to stay off social media and I am not endorsing either candidate but I believe it’s important that citizens have the information necessary to decide what is best for their towns. I will only speak to what I personally witnessed or can provide links to support, links will be at the beginning of each item. Apologies if I left anything out, not intentional, I’m human.
I will not release the names of anyone involved who is not an elected official, privacy and civility above all.
Apologies for the long read.
Synopsis: The mayor has long supported parks and a place for cricket fields, since Samuel Farm was the only park site large enough for a cricket field, it was included in our parks planning processes, Samuel Farm was regularly discussed and contested by members of council, due to the legal and funding issues associated with the park(see below)
The discussion regarding cricket fields goes back sometime before 2021 but the first official reference starts in 2021.
Mar 9, 2021 – 4B Discusses Cricket fields at Samuel Farm. (35 mins mark). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7j5TYRx8YEA](https://l.facebook.com/l.php…]-R&c[0]=AT0xR1z99isUMb_14aBLgD5bEjgqlbnjFO92GnsoTdT3MQ3aXafP1GAPgEfkeiBK-3sTnlpGC-dLaEjenqtLeJ6jr6HqydEiF-VUstVpBpR9dPU7GFB0G5aLYcfvh0jFJSMGulMJc5j9on1aAk3uQsgS1XsIFwxyflTCYjeY)
April 13, 2021 – 4B Discusses meeting with “Cricket Group” to explore partnership opportunities at Samuel Farm (58 mins mark) Kris Naar speaks in support.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EONH76vqFmc](https://l.facebook.com/l.php…]-R&c[0]=AT0xR1z99isUMb_14aBLgD5bEjgqlbnjFO92GnsoTdT3MQ3aXafP1GAPgEfkeiBK-3sTnlpGC-dLaEjenqtLeJ6jr6HqydEiF-VUstVpBpR9dPU7GFB0G5aLYcfvh0jFJSMGulMJc5j9on1aAk3uQsgS1XsIFwxyflTCYjeY)
May 13, 2021 Parks master plan is developed based on surveys and citizen feedback. Cricket was ranked last by citizens as desired amenity (page 60)[https://townofsunnyvale.org/…/SUNNYVALE-PARKS-MASTER…](https://l.facebook.com/l.php…]-R&c[0]=AT0xR1z99isUMb_14aBLgD5bEjgqlbnjFO92GnsoTdT3MQ3aXafP1GAPgEfkeiBK-3sTnlpGC-dLaEjenqtLeJ6jr6HqydEiF-VUstVpBpR9dPU7GFB0G5aLYcfvh0jFJSMGulMJc5j9on1aAk3uQsgS1XsIFwxyflTCYjeY)
2022 Budget Planning , at our annual budget planning retreat we discussed parks planning. The mayor desired progress to be made at Jobson and Samuel Farm parks, myself and other council members, expressed concerns on spending any money at Samuel Farm due to Sunnyvale not owning the property. The mayor pushed and $6.2M was added as an “unfunded” capital improvement item for Samuel Farm. [http://townofsunnyvale.civicweb.net/document/33886…](https://l.facebook.com/l.php…]-R&c[0]=AT0xR1z99isUMb_14aBLgD5bEjgqlbnjFO92GnsoTdT3MQ3aXafP1GAPgEfkeiBK-3sTnlpGC-dLaEjenqtLeJ6jr6HqydEiF-VUstVpBpR9dPU7GFB0G5aLYcfvh0jFJSMGulMJc5j9on1aAk3uQsgS1XsIFwxyflTCYjeY)
2023 Samuel Farm was discussed outside of meetings by the mayor as a desired park to expand, many on council had reservations due to legal concerns, which is why it was never requested as an “Official” vote or budget item.
2023 and 2024 – Mayor and Myself met with leaders in SYRSA, multiple times regarding new fields at Jobson park (baseball, soccer, football), as well as potential for partnering with school to overhaul the middle school track\field.
Jan 8, 2024 – Council discusses engaging with Halff and Associates to develop park plans for Samuel Farm North at a cost of $62,700. (49 min mark). Freeman and Eldridge outline concerns spending any money on land Sunnyvale doesn’t own, any improvements to Samuel Farm, by law, have to be funded in cash. Vote for Samuel farm professional services agreement passes 4-2 (Eldridge and Freeman voted no) [https://sunnyvaletx.new.swagit.com/videos/293680](https://l.facebook.com/l.php…]-R&c[0]=AT0xR1z99isUMb_14aBLgD5bEjgqlbnjFO92GnsoTdT3MQ3aXafP1GAPgEfkeiBK-3sTnlpGC-dLaEjenqtLeJ6jr6HqydEiF-VUstVpBpR9dPU7GFB0G5aLYcfvh0jFJSMGulMJc5j9on1aAk3uQsgS1XsIFwxyflTCYjeY)
July 13, 2024 – Saturday strategic planning session with 4B, Preliminary designs are shown for Samuel Farm, including multiple Cricket fields. Larry Allen, Ryan Finch and myself asked why are we including cricket fields (since it ranked last on our park survey). The mayor stated he supported the cricket fields being included and he directed staff that these be in the designs. I expressed concerns that pursuing anything at Samuel Farm would cost us cash and would deter funds\resources from other viable park options. The mayor stated he wanted to pursue both Jobson park and Samuel farm in unison. I outlined that waiting for the legal and funding issues to be resolved at Samuel farm would delay the development of fields at Jobson park. The mayor heard my concerns and said we will continue to pursue both. I further stated that we may be holding Jobson hostage by continuing to pursue Samuel Farm. The mayor said, it will be ok, we will pursue both.[https://townofsunnyvale.civicweb.net/document/213705/](https://l.facebook.com/l.php…]-R&c[0]=AT0xR1z99isUMb_14aBLgD5bEjgqlbnjFO92GnsoTdT3MQ3aXafP1GAPgEfkeiBK-3sTnlpGC-dLaEjenqtLeJ6jr6HqydEiF-VUstVpBpR9dPU7GFB0G5aLYcfvh0jFJSMGulMJc5j9on1aAk3uQsgS1XsIFwxyflTCYjeY)
Fall of 2024 – Numerous members of the community contact various members of council, expressing concerns that not enough progress has been made on new fields for youth sports. Attending nearly every council meeting from Oct 2024 to Mar 24 2025.
Nov 4 2024 – Town Council &4b Joint Meeting – Council reviews Halff and associates plans for parks development. Cricket field included in design of Samuel Farm [https://d3n9y02raazwpg.cloudfront.net/…/ca8f3a79-9857…](https://d3n9y02raazwpg.cloudfront.net/…/ca8f3a79-9857…)
Feb 10, 2025 – Town council & 4b joint meeting – Mayor opens the meeting speaking on Samuel Farm. [https://swagit-attachments.granicus.com/…/2-10…](https://swagit-attachments.granicus.com/…/2-10…)
Mar 24, 2025 – Town council & 4b joint meeting – Council and 4B votes to proceed with plans to improve Vineyard park, SISD middle school field and Jobson park. [https://sunnyvaletx.new.swagit.com/videos/338244](https://l.facebook.com/l.php…]-R&c[0]=AT0xR1z99isUMb_14aBLgD5bEjgqlbnjFO92GnsoTdT3MQ3aXafP1GAPgEfkeiBK-3sTnlpGC-dLaEjenqtLeJ6jr6HqydEiF-VUstVpBpR9dPU7GFB0G5aLYcfvh0jFJSMGulMJc5j9on1aAk3uQsgS1XsIFwxyflTCYjeY)
As I count it, that is 12 time periods Mark references, 9 with links to a source, and 5 of those links reference cricket. 3 of those 5 cricket references are from 2021–4 years ago. The other 2 references to cricket are from July and November 2024, where cricket fields are a component of a much larger design.
How is the Mayor and Town Council So Much Better At Not-Talking-About-Cricket Than I Am??
I’ve been up late watching all of these videos. I’m still not done. Piecing together all the reasons why our parks have been delayed is going to take multiple posts. One theme that’s becoming clear to me though is that cricket has never been a main feature of any of these park designs. No one was ever seriously considering turning Jobson Park into one big cricket field. Samuell Farm North Park was never going to be a cricket complex, it was an overly ambitious recreation complex for all kinds of sports.
The second theme I’m gathering is that there are some valid non-cricket related reasons why a project at Samuell Farm North was considered. Doesn’t mean the proposal from Halff was any good, but there are honest concerns by residents near Jobson Park and by some council members that justified at least exploring Samuell North as an option.
So from what I’ve seen so far, it appears that:
- Four years ago, there was an idea floated by Kris Naar for dual-use fields that could be used for both soccer and cricket. The concrete cricket pitch could be hidden by putting stadium seating over them when it’s being used for soccer. Sunnyvale had been identified by cricket clubs in the DFW area, and the clubs approached Sunnyvale because they noticed the large unused fields at Samuell North. It was even noted that the clubs were willing to help fundraise and partner with local retailers like Dick’s Sporting Goods and Academy Sports to pay for the cricket field development, and that they had done that in other locations.
- some residents near Jobson Park are very concerned about noise, crime, light pollution, trash, homelessness, etc if the Jobson site is expanded. They like having a very large (~16 acres?) park next to their HOA community, even though it’s well above the size guidelines that curtail development at a small neighborhood park. The proposed plan for Jobson includes expanding parking from 52 to 150 spaces. Putting in floodlights will mean light pollution and noise, because games can carry on later into the evening. I think in the January 2024 meeting, HOA president and another HOA official gave public comments that improving Jobson could attract crime, and that a traffic impact analysis hadn’t been done. Someone’s dog was run over by a careless driver on the nearby cross streets. Residents near the park have repeatedly said the town should look for fields elsewhere, particularly at Samuell North park.
- council members Clark and Allen both vigorously supported paying for the study of Samuell North park. Allen said we should make a proactive decision now about what we want the park to look like, because the City of Dallas could make up their mind and put something we DON’T want there someday if we don’t act. Clark said we have been charged with using the land, since nobody really controls Samuell North park, so we should use it. Saji George mentioned that many fields could be hosted at Samuell North because it’s over 200 acres, including football, softball, volleyball, lacrosse, and yes cricket.
- at the March 2025 meeting (where Paul Cash sat next to Saji George), residents near Jobson still asked the 4B and Council “where else can we acquire land” so we can keep the nature of Jobson as a neighborhood park. Saji asked the consultants to look for ways to speed up the proposed development of Vineyard, SISD, and Jobson fields from the 26 months proposed to something closer to 12 months, and to have the consultants keep working with SISD to find new fields they could develop near the schools.
- there is a lot of frustration with the consultants hired by the city. Their proposals didn’t seem to account for basic needs like lacrosse and baseball using the same field at the same time. It took them weeks to send the council a 2-page summary of options. There has been years of exploration and discussion without real action.
I am still beyond perplexed that this Samuell North idea is being called a cricket complex for out of town adult cricket players. There is a legitimate need in our town for more sports fields now, and we all agree on that. Folks near Jobson have a deep concern about the noise, light, crime, and potential their streets could be unsafe for kids to play on. I can certainly see why they would want those fields built somewhere else like Samuell North.
I also 100% agree that there are major problems with trying to build on Samuell North—as Mark Eldridge himself said in the January 2024 meeting, “don’t go into a restaurant you can’t afford.” It would cost a LOT of money and there is a slim but real chance Dallas could take the whole park from us. But I see nothing in these videos that make me think that Saji George is stalling Jobson and all our other parks so he can get cricket fields.
