SANDRA M STANWAY
Brooks Bulletin
The soccer association is looking for a new home and last Tuesday representatives urged the city to reconsider the old rodeo grounds as a soccer area rather than giving the land to Christ the Redeemer for a new high school.
“We would like council to consider the location adjacent to the French school for the high school so that Grasslands Soccer can locate at the old rodeo grounds,” Maria Jackson of the soccer association said.
In their presentation to city council committee Brad Biette and Jackson said about 650 minor soccer players were registered for outdoor soccer this year and the sport will continue to grow as space allows.
The old rodeo grounds, they explained, is the ideal location for 14-plus soccer fields while giving them room to grow.
“Ultimately, Grasslands Soccer Association is looking for a home,” Jackson said.
The soccer presentation was similar to the one that was supported by the city’s recreation committee on June 19; two weeks before the Catholic school pitched it to the city behind-closed-doors.
“The association was disappointed to hear that very soon after that (recreation) meeting council decided to dedicate the entire parcel for the new Catholic school,” Jackson said.
At least twice during the meeting elected officials said there was an agreement with the Catholic school system for the land.
“You know we had entered into an agreement (of) some sort,” said councillor Mohammed Idriss who in July was one of two councillors who voted against giving the school board the property.
Mayor John Petrie said part of the “agreement” with the school board was that soccer fields are needed.
“We could still put it there. Like I say, 23-acres, they’re going to take nine. We still have a lot of room for soccer.”
In mid-July the city announced the entire area, including the old rodeo grounds and municipal reserves, were designated for the school.
“It’s 23 acres. I think this council will still (be) committed to building soccer fields there,” Petrie said.
“They need a playground anyway. But it doesn’t matter. We have a good agreement with Grasslands (schools) and with Christ the Redeemer that we can join, use facilities back and forth. We need them. They need us there too,” he said.
Petrie confirmed there is no written agreement with the school district.
On Wednesday Jackson told The Bulletin that she and Biette left the meeting at 5:30 p.m. and by 9 a.m. they had a reply from the city that the association should look at locating on private land.
“There was no opportunity given to discuss alternative options with administration to find a solution that could work for both the city and Grasslands soccer for the short or long term,” she said.
In her response to the city, Jackson asked why they did not consider a field in Meadowbrook beside the French school or near the quad ball diamonds as the other options offered by the association.
“The unwillingness of the city to partner with Grasslands Soccer Association is to the detriment of the entire community,” Jackson said.
