A Place To Play

The Spokane Valley Junior Soccer Association has outgrown its ability to field teams.

In the last decade the Valley’s developmental soccer program has gone from 904 youngsters to more than 3,000 playing on 270 teams, and there’s no letup in sight.

In an effort to remedy the situation, the organization is beginning an ambitious publicprivate partnership to develop a 15-field soccer complex just east of Plante’s Ferry Park.

“We’re growing so fast that we’re using all the school fields,” said SVJSA president George Skidmore. “We needed another field and the county couldn’t develop the land for 15 or 20 years.”

The fund-raising effort to turn this dream into reality begins July 10 with a volunteer organizational meeting, said Skidmore.

“We are saying we need $400,000,” said Skidmore. “If we get $300,000 and get it matched by the state we can do it in phases.”

Everyone involved acknowledges that building the complex is one thing and that raising the money to make it happen is another.

Wyn Birkenthal, head of the county parks department, said that such high-dollar projects are difficult.

“I would say that when you enter into partnerships for sports fields, because they are costly, you’re never 100 percent sure they’ll come to fruition,” he said.

Birkenthal, however, believes it is a worthy project because of the further benefits it will provide. He said he will work to secure matching funds.

“It’s highly competitive and the state only funds 20 percent of requests brought to it by park and recreation,” he said. “We will work to secure funds if not this year, then next or whenever it takes.”

The soccer complex would serve additional purposes by cleaning up an area that has become overgrown with trees and a fire hazard, an illegal dumping area and haven for transients.

Traffic improvements on Upriver Drive, which will allow easier access into and out of the park, will be made next year, Birkenthal said.

SVSJA board members signed a contract with the county Park Department late last year to lease and develop the 35-acre site a tree plantation just east of Plantes Ferry Park that the county purchased in 1991.

Originally the idea was to build a regional sports complex. Funds didn’t materialize and the county sought out non-profit groups for development bids. SVSJA responded.

Following a series of hearings, the proposal was given a go-ahead.

Bill Mazurek and Gib Brumback, Valley businessmen involved in the soccer association, are the coordinators for fund-raising and development of the site.

“We already have significant commitments from corporations as well as within our own organization,” said Mazurek. “I know we’ll be able to do our part.”

The amount, he said, works out to only about $100 per player.

He said he was hoping to have fund-raising completed and construction begun by the fall of 1997. He estimates it will take $700,000 in cash, including matching money. Another $500,000 will be in-kind contributions of labor to build the complex.

“There is so much competition for school usage, we’re kind of wearing out our welcome,” said Mazurek. “We have 3,100 kids plus 270 volunteer coaches. We’ve been growing 20 percent a year. It’s a thriving deal.”

The complex will include not only soccer fields, but also a children’s playground, picnic area, access roads, restroom and concession building.

There will be room for a four- or five-field softball complex in the future and access to the river for canoers and kayakers. Its proximity to the county maintenance building will lower costs.

At the hearings earlier this year, some homeowners raised concerns about the impact of the sports complex on the neighborhoods. In response, the developers agreed to build a centralized restroom and 350-car parking lot, and to build fences between public and private properties, said Birkenthal.

“It will definitely be a net plus for the neighborhood,” he said. “Instead of a fire hazard and an illegal dumping area it will be a manicured green lawn.”

And the bottom line, say proponents, if SVSJA can pull it off there will be more soccer facilities for Valley youngsters and a place to host regional tournaments.

“I know it does sound impossible and who knows, it might not happen,” said Skidmore. “But soccer is the fastest-growing sport in the country. It’s kind of the wave of the future. I’m optimistic.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 photos (1 color)