Soccer fields to be developed on Pioneer High School campus

SAN JOSE » An irregularly shaped slice of land on the Pioneer High School campus soon may be transformed into a field of dreams for the city’s soccer players.

The San Jose Unified School District board last week unanimously approved an agreement that calls for the Almaden Valley Soccer Club to help it develop the property into two soccer fields in exchange for a 50-year lease to use them.

Ownership of the 3.71acre parcel, located behind Pioneer ’ s main spor ts fields, wi l l be transferred from the city to the school district. Although the district gets priority use of the fields, the public and private soccer clubs also will be able to play on them.

The city proposed giving the land to the district last year, citing a need for more soccer fields in District 10.

City parks staff determined the lot’s size, shape and location made it “unfeasible for independent development or use” but suitable for soccer fields.

Almaden Valley Soccer Club president Colin McCarthy said the board’s decision will “provide us with a platform to go and fundraise” to help pay for construction of the fields.

“We really think this is going to be a win-win-win for everyone involved,” McCarthy said, especially for the club, which has rented facilities since it formed in 1967.

To celebrate its 50th anniversary, Almaden Valley Soccer Club is planning an 18-hole scramble golf tournament at the end of this month that will also raise money for the fields.

The tournament already has several major sponsors, including District 10 Councilman Johnny Khamis’ office and Blach Construction, but the club plans to solicit contributions in stages because of the steep estimate.

“This is the start of a three- month campaign,” he said, including a banquet planned in December. “If we want our dreams to come true right away, it would be about a $12 million hole, but realistically we can do this in phases if we need to.”

The club hopes to raise about $4 million by the end of the year; donations are tax- deductible, according to McCarthy. No construction timeline has been set yet for the fields.

The Almaden Valley Soccer Club Golf and Banquet takes place Aug. 28, starting 10 a.m. at the Almaden Golf and Country Club, 6663 Hampton Drive. Appetizers and entertainment will be offered between the end of the tournament and start of the banquet. For tickets and more information, visit almadensoccer.org.