James Meredith The softball diamonds at Duck Park will be named after a man who served the local park system for nearly three decades.

On Thursday, the board of directors of the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District voted to name the recently renovated softball facility at Rancho Simi Community Park after former board member James “Jim” Meredith.

First elected to the board in 1982, he stepped down in January due to illness.

The fields at 1765 Royal Avenue will formally be called the James L. Meredith Softball Complex.

Board chair Elaine Freeman said the district wanted to do something to thank Meredith, who earned the nickname, “Mr. Parks and Rec,” for all his years of service to the community.

“He’s been a member of the board for 27 years, and prior to that he was very involved in youth sports,” Freeman said. “It’s a lot of years and a lot of dedication.”

Initially, athletic fields at two Simi Valley Unified School District sites were to be named after Meredith.

At its Aug. 5 meeting, the park district board approved a recommendation for the park district to request permission from the school district to name the recreation facilities behind Apollo High School and the Simi Valley Adult School the James L. Meredith Sports Complex.

The park district took over the operation and maintenance of several school district athletic fields in July, including the ones at Apollo and the adult school.

However, the school district subsequently notified the park district that its request was not consistent with school district board policy, which is to only name a facility or building after someone who is deceased.

As a result, the park board decided instead to name the softball complex at Duck Park after Meredith, calling it an “equal honor.”

“We just thought that Jim loves the Rancho Simi Community Park, and it just seemed more appropriate because that’s his park . . . and that’s our oldest community park,” Freeman said.

She added that the district has put a lot of time and money into rejuvenating the park, improving the fields, swimming pool and restrooms.

The softball fields were completely renovated two years ago and receive heavy use all year by district leagues, local church leagues, youth travel teams, Simi Valley Girls Softball and Royal High School girls’ teams.

“We’ve really upgraded it, so we thought this an appropriate time to name it after him,” Freeman said.

Signs at the facility will reflect the new name.

Despite the change in direction, the park board still felt it would be advantageous to formally name the adjacent Apollo and adult school facilities and chose to call them the Youth Sports Complex. Included are four softball fields and a gymnasium on the southern portion of the Apollo campus and the Viking Football Complex behind the adult school.

Having one name will remove any confusion about what the fields are called and make it easier for the district to market them through the placement of one park identification sign as well as directional signs along Los Angeles and Blackstock avenues.