SANDRA M STANWAY
Brooks Bulletin
City council committee members agreed to permit the construction of soccer fields on a piece of land immediately south of the quad ball diamonds.
The city has direct control of the 17 acre property so a land use amendment will not have to be made, however, the entire southeast area sector will be updated in 2025.
Lisa Tiffin, the city’s director of planning and community development, told the committee the land was chosen due to its size, access to water, wastewater as well as parking and a playground.
The original plan for the area was to build single family homes in the parcel and extending 14th Street East, however, the city doesn’t believe the land will be needed for homes.
The recreation board gave their approval for the project on the property as they had given their approval for the previous soccer field proposal at the old rodeo grounds.
“This will be a public space. You know with our first presentation those fields are used just about year round by the community so that’s there for everyone to use,” said Brad Biette, vice president of Grasslands Soccer Association. Larger fields can be reduced in size by changing the painted lines to accommodate younger players while the entire area could be used to host provincials, something that the association does want to do.
The fields will not be available for house league play but they may be ready in late 2025 for competitive teams. The season can be extended if players are attending Southern Alberta Summer Games or provincials.
Biette is concerned that the public may use the field after it’s built but before it’s ready to be used.
“Therein lies the problem.”
There are a couple of fields where baseballs could potentially land so there may have to be a fence installed.
Biette does not know if they will seek funding from the city.
“It’s hard to designate what the financial commitment will be because we have no home,” he said.
He said until there is something to call home the association cannot fundraise and don’t know how much they may need.
“I think we would like to be treated like other minor sports associations so whatever the city has contributed to minor ball, we would appreciate the same funding towards us,” said Maria Jackson, a member of the association.
The board chair of Grasslands Public Schools confirmed last week that the track construction will begin in the spring at Eastbrook School on land that was used for house league soccer.
Biette expects the house league soccer season will be played at other school locations.
