Summerside city council gave unanimous approval Tuesday night for the Summerside United Soccer Club (SUSC) to use the field, decommissioned last fall and since used as green space, for its Under 12 soccer program.
“This will breathe new life into the park,” said Coun. Brent Gallant in supporting the move.
The club, which boasts more than 650 members, had approached the city with a proposal to use the space for its Under 12 teams, both for practice and games.
A letter — 20 copies in total — was sent to area residents after the issue was before the technical services committee in early May, with the proposal generating response by email, telephone and letter and, overall, receiving residents’ support.
Some concerns were raised, primarily around traffic and parking, with one letter, from long-time Hillside Avenue residents Joe and Carol Peters, opposing the move.
The Peters have lived across from the former ballpark for almost two decades and, in their lengthy letter to the club and council, expressed many concerns, citing, among them, traffic, parking, garbage and children running into the street.
“We are enjoying this space as green and feel there are enough public soccer and ballfields in the city now and do no support this endeavor,” wrote the Peters.
It was suggested, at Tuesday night’s meeting, that signage be put in place to deter people from parking in areas outside those designated for the field.
The soccer club currently uses a number of green spaces and sporting fields throughout the city, including three areas at Three Oaks Senior High, fields at the bus depot field on MacEwen Road, fields at Greenfield, Athena, Elm Street and Summerside Intermediate schools, the city’s artificial turf and its former outdoor concert space adjacent to Credit Union Place.
“It takes a lot of areas to make this work,” SUSC president Steve Campbell wrote in his letter to area residents. “We have programs spread throughout city limits and it also allows the sport to be enjoyed around almost corner of the city.”
The field would be used by the club from early June to the end of August in evenings and parts of the weekend. No play, it was stressed, would happen after dark or during early mornings, leaving the area available for neighbourbood children to use.
There are no incremental costs to the city. SUSC has agreed to meet all criteria set forth by the community services department relating to safe play surface guidelines, while department will maintain washroom facilities and be responsible for waste cleanup and the area’s general maintenance.