Five years ago five cities came together to address the challenge of a shortage of sports fields in the region. The cities of Richmond, El Cerrito, Berkeley, Albany and Emeryville came up with this: Develop a regional sports complex at the intersection of I-80 and Gilman Street in northwest Berkeley.

Earlier this month the leaders and politicians of each of these five cities cut the ribbon at the new $7 million sports complex.

Officially named the Tom Bates Regional Sports Facility, the complex includes conservation features and will include two lighted synthetic fields, built to accommodate soccer, rugby, and lacrosse and three non-lighted grass fields that can be used for baseball.