Viewpoints
Funding Turf Soccer Fields
for the record
By Kay Jones
December 19, 2007
Wednesday AM
For the record and in response to Mr. Johnson, KYSL has tried
for years to obtain the funding for a turf field. Because KYSL
does not own the fields they are not eligible to apply for several
grants that United States Soccer Federation (USSF) offers. They
have tried several corporate sponsors and once again the roadblock
has been that they do not own the fields, nor do they have a
long-term user right lease in place with the borough.
Five years ago Steve Beattie (KYSL president at the time) and
I went to the borough staff with the USSF grant proposal. We
offered to do all the work, if the borough staff would submit
the grant in their name. We were basically told a turf field
was too much work and that the borough was not interested in
a grant of this kind. We were also told that the borough was
not interested in a developing a program where we could lease
the fields on a long-term basis, so KYSL would be eligible to
apply for the grant on their own. We left very frustrated and
very disheartened.
As the Executive Director for Alaska Youth Soccer, I have attended
several grant funding seminars at national conventions to benefit
soccer across Alaska. I travel all over the state and I know
the fields in almost every community. Believe me, Ketchikan has
the poorest playing condition. It is sad my hands are tied in
my own backyard.
KYSL is willing to do what is necessary to get a better playing
field, but raffle sales aren't going to bring in the kind of
money needed.
And as a reminder, this is not just a soccer field as people
keep indicating, it is a soccer, football and field event field!
By the way, the Kayhi Kings did defeat Juneau on our home gravel
field in 2003.
Kay Jones
Ketchikan, AK
About: "Executive Director
for Alaska Youth Soccer and Kayhi Lady Kings Soccer Co-Coach
(8 years)."
Received December 17, 2007
- Published December 19, 2007
Related Viewpoint:
 If
you build it . . . . they won't come! By Billy Johnson
Viewpoints - Opinion Letters:
Webmail
Your Opinion Letter to the Editor
Note: Comments published
on Viewpoints are the opinions of the writer
and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Sitnews.
E-mail your letters
& opinions to editor@sitnews.us
Your full name, city and state are required for publication.
SitNews
©2007
Stories In The News
Ketchikan, Alaska
|