Field benefits all soccer players
Re: Soccer club deal bars Ottawa residents from new pitches, Aug. 9.
This article did not capture many aspects of the agreement reached between the city and Ottawa South United (OSU). Through this agreement, there are substantial benefits accruing to all those interested in providing residents with greater access to practice and playing venues.
With 6,800 Ottawa residents as registered players, OSU, one of the largest and most successful community clubs in Canada, is assigned all the permits for the George Nelms Sports Park (GNSP) for the summer season. During the course of the season, some 50,000 Ottawa residents (players, parents and visitors) will go through the GNSP facility.
The protocols for OSU field usage permits at the GNSP are in essence no different from any of the other City of Ottawa area soccer clubs, where their “home” facilities are utilized to capacity to service the needs of their soccer-playing membership and the residents of other Ottawabased soccer clubs that compete with OSU on a nightly basis.
In 2015, the OSU membership directed the expenditure of the accumulated OSU fund reserves to the construction of an artificial turf field at the GNSP site in order to further relieve soccer field shortages in Ottawa and to benefit of our soccer-playing youth.
A decision was also made to examine expanding and paving the existing gravel parking lot, which serviced the six full-sized grass fields. In return for investing $1.5 million of OSU funds into the artificial turf field, our community soccer club would be granted exclusive use of the field for 10 years.
It is only reasonable and prudent that common-sense steps are taken to protect the significant investment that has been made in recreational facilities from damage and vandalism and for the safety of the players.
Unfortunately, we have seen damage inflicted on soccer fields when cars and trucks have been driven across them during “joyriding” by irresponsible individuals. Being able to secure the fields after normal operating hours by means of gates is a positive thing.
By funding the installation of the artificial turf field at GNSP, OSU has also indirectly created more available space at other city facilities where other community groups are now able to book field permits previously used by OSU.
This includes the Richcraft Recreation Complex and Quinn’s Pointe in Barrhaven.
The Citizen article failed to mention that the City of Ottawa investment into the parking lot was matched dollar-for-dollar with equal contributions from OSU ($79,750), and that the parking lot serves the entire GNSP, not just the new artificial turf field.
OSU is proud of its direct investment in the development of community soccer facilities such as the GNSP, which are a driving factor in developing outstanding Canadian soccer players.
Craig Stead, Programs Manager, Ottawa South United Soccer
It is only reasonable and prudent that common-sense steps are taken to protect the significant investment that has been made in recreational facilities from damage and vandalism and for the safety of the players. — Craig Stead