(9/19) Local soccer players and fans will be able to look forward to an upgraded experience next year thanks to a plan to improve field quality, which was approved by the parks commission on September 6. The project is set to take place in several parts between Fall of 2023 and Spring of 2024.
Commission member Kevin Conley, who also serves on the GVAA Board of Directors, shared details of the plan with the rest of the commission. He explained that the project closely resembles the successful improvements made to the football fields under the guidance of Jason Smith. Conley emphasized the importance of proper field maintenance and the significant benefits it would bring to the local soccer community.
The first step in the project involves taking two of the three soccer fields temporarily "offline." This downtime will be used to aerate, seed, and fertilize the fields, ensuring their lush green appearance and optimal playing conditions. This phase is set to be completed in mid-October so that the fields can recover prior to winter. The third field will be taken offline in the spring and undergo the same process as the first two, ensuring that all necessary improvements are made within a single fiscal year.
To accommodate soccer players during the field improvements, arrangements have been made for the usage of a field at Utica Park for two weeks, with one night allocated for practice each week. Furthermore, temporary relocation of two soccer goals to the old golf course is planned, exclusively for practice, no games will be played there. Conley acknowledged that the old golf course sits in a floodplain, but he expressed optimism that the weather would cooperate, and heavy rains would not interfere with the project's timeline.
In a related matter, Laurie Keifer, speaking on behalf of homeschool families in the area, presented a request for usage of the soccer fields between September 19 and November 21. Due to an existing agreement between the families and GVAA, the parks commission approved the request assuming that the group will make accommodations during the field improvements.
In addition to the field upgrades, new benches will also be installed to ensure comfort, safety, and enjoyment of the sport. Said Conley, "A lot of the community uses these fields, and we want to keep them up to standards…and maintained as well as we can."
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