City of Richmond Parks, Recreation

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City of Richmond Parks, Recreation Cultural
Services CommitteeJune 28, 2005

• Presentation by an Alliance of 13 Richmond Soccer
  Associations

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Proposal for New Soccer Fields Strategy and
Facilities

• Define a new partnership with the City, built on
  the Citys Guiding Principles.
• A cooperative, inclusive approach, endorsed by
  Richmond Sports Council.
• Provide fields better meeting current needs.
• Improve the parks experience of the overall
  Community - sport and non-sport users.

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Strategy and Benefits

• Build a Richmond Training Centre with 4
  artificial turf fields.
• Reduce the number of grass fields required by
  nearly 50, freeing up 40 acres of park space.
• Reduce chronic, documented over-use and damage to
  grass fields - restore sustainability.
• Improve quality of diamonds for summer sports.
• Improve availability and quality of playing
  fields for other community user groups.
• Reduce City costs to restore over-used fields.
• Everybody Wins!

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13 Richmond Soccer Associations

• Fall-Winter
• Richmond Youth Soccer (Boys - incl. West / South
  Arm/ North / Central) 1,550
• Richmond Girls Soccer 1,000
• Richmond Senior Soccer League (Mens) 600
• Richmond Womens Soccer 240
• Vancouver Metro Mens (Richmond teams) 180
• Total Fall/Winter 3,570
• Spring/Summer
• Richmond Youth Soccer (Co-ed) 500
• Richmond Womens Soccer 200
• Richmond 6 a-side Mens League 160
• Richmond Regional Soccer League (Mens) 220
• Richmond Recreational League (Mens) 200
• BC Christian Soccer League (Mens Richmond
  teams) 50
• Total Spring/Summer 1,330

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Soccer in Richmond

• 3,700 fall/winter players, 1,300 spring/summer.
• Two-thirds are youth of which 40 are female.
• Steady growth - 23 in last ten years.
• Growth due to womens and girls participation.
• Volunteer-run, gt50,000 hours per year.
• Field Needs
• Adequate lit fields for practices.
• Good quality, safe fields for all games.

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Soccer Fields in Richmond

• 2 artificial turf (AT), 17 sand, 75 clay.
• Shortage of sand fields.
• 10 sand fields lit for practice use.
• ? Lit sand fields chronically over-used.
• Recommended use 12 hours/wk.
• Current use 32 hours/wk.
• Superb in October, but decay rapidly.
• Poor for 2nd half of season and summer sport.
• 15,000 each to maintain/restore.

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Richmond Fields Possible Releases Example
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Fields Strategy Benefits for Soccer

• 4 new AT fields
• Weekday practices and weekend games.
• Most practices on AT surfaces
• Most games on AT and sand fields better clay.
• Field usage sustainable ? remain good quality.
• Restore Minoru Oval to showcase facility.
• Meet needs until 2011, e.g., until major DFO
  facility.

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Fields Strategy Benefitsfor Community

• Release of 47 fields - 40 acres - for other uses.
  
• Improved playing surfaces for summer sports.
• Reduced community friction re small fields.
• Facility available for other sports, community
  use, schools, etc.
• Attract tournaments, e.g., Provincial Cups, for
  opportunity, recognition and financial benefit.

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Location, Dates, Costs

• Site requirements - 8-10 acres.
• Focused on concept, not a specific location.
• Ideally West of No. 4 Road. Ideally at one site.
• Options include DFO, South Arm, Hugh Boyd,
  others.
• Fall 2006 target completion.
• Or Plan and Phase 1 in 06, build-out in 08.
• New lit AT field 1.5 million ? 6.0 million.
• Economies of four ? 5.0 million. Plus 1.0 for
  building.
• Parks Dept. may recommend for 2006 capital
  spending.
• Soccer groups contribution, possible partnering,
  grants.
• Broad community benefits ? City discretionary
  funds.

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Richmonds Soccer Associations Commitment

• Contribute 250,000 capital.
• 80 per youth, 40 per adult.
• Pay annual maintenance fees of 140,000.
• Close to half maintenance costs.
• Annual fees Youth - 30 Adults - 45.
• Seek further sponsorship and external
  contributions.

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Next Steps

• The delegation respectfully requests that the
  Parks, Recreation Cultural Services Committee
• Endorse this proposal in principle
• Refer it to staff for review and recommendations
  regarding implementation, and
• Require these recommendations be returned to
  Committee/Council for final approval by September
  2005.