With the goal of creating an indoor soccer facility or additional lit turf fields, the president of the Comox Valley United Soccer Club alerted Courtenay council to the need for facilities for the sport in the Valley.
At the Sept. 27 council meeting, Stefan Szkwarek informed council during a presentation that more than 1,200 youth and 200 adults of various ages are registered with the organization and there is a need for more facilities.
“People are wanting to get out on the pitch and we just don’t have enough space for them,” he noted and added that throughout its history, the club has invested around $1 million in local sports infrastructure, including lights at Vanier field and contributing to the turf field construction.
Currently, CVUSC has funds earmarked to build a field house at the Vanier location.
“We feel we do our part and are looking for assistance; we have growing programs, more kids, less space and we have a problem.”
Szkwarek inquired if city staff could do an analysis on the use of their outdoor facilities, as he suggested there are a lot of facilities that could be better used, particularly Valley View and Bill Moore Park.
He also added the club has major infrastructure goals: to build the field house facility at the Vanier turf field; to extend their agreement with the school district on use of the turf field by contributing funds for maintenance costs and to build additional soccer-capable facilities in the Valley to facilitate year-round training and play.
“What we’re looking from the city (is to) work together to chose a site and agree to a concept for an all-weather facility for year-round play and gain a commitment when a viable concept is determined, funding for the project and to complete an exhaustive analysis of the use of rec space in the city so that space can best be allocated and distributed.”
Susie Saunders, director of recreation, culture and community services for the city noted the last time a regional sports study was done was in 2008.
“I can’t say if the regional district is going to update the strategy but staff is in discussion …(we’re) encouraging them to update it … and take a look at it with recommendations moving forward. There’s no commitment but we’re in active discussions to re-initiate a field sports study.”
Coun. Doug Hillian asked Szkwarek about the approximate costs of indoor soccer facilities.
He responded that there is a large scale of costs in terms of facilities, but noted that one in Langford was built for Pacific FC for around $5 million.
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