Soccer dome will prove its worth

Editor:

Congratulations to the City of West Kelowna staff and council for moving forward on the Westside soccer indoor facility (Daily Courier, Thursday, Jan. 25) (Westside Weekly, Friday Jan. 26).

The Westside topography and location of the current Àelds limits the number of days and hours our youth and adults can play soccer during spring and summer. There is a deÀnite need for this space.

When completed, this facility will allow some 1,300 of our youth to play, practice and host games during fall and winter. Soccer academies at Const. Neil Bruce and Mount Boucherie Secondary School won.t have to waste time and money on trips to CNC. Soccer moms and dads will be spared similar trips to the Mission.

Other sports organizations like baseball, Àeld hockey and football will have an opportunity to practice during the off season.

With this project, local taxpayers are getting a sweet deal.

The Westside Youth Soccer Association will provide over $600,000 for the Àeld and dome with funds initially set aside some 18 years ago by forward-looking soccer parents as well as a generous grant by the province.

The dome will serve as a catalyst for local economic activity. As WYSA and the Central Okanagan Youth Soccer Association host “indoor soccer” tournaments, service industry businesses around Westlake Road will beneÀt from additional trafÀc and serving the needs of out of town travelers.

It’s all about Westside pride. Gordon Wiebe, project co-ordinator