HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 04-17-2001-8l~-
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: April 17, 2001
Action Agenda
Item No. $-
SUBJECT: Development of Soccer Field_at Mapleview Farm
DEPARTMENT: Recreation and Parks PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
Economic Development
ATTACHMENT(S):
Maps showing location of proposed field
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Bob Jones, . ext 2661
Dianne Reid, ext 2325
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968501
Durham G88-7331
Mebane 336-227-2031
PURPOSE:
In response to the documented need for additional soccer practice fields in the county (as
shown in the report of the Soccer Symposium Task Force), Bob Nutter of Mapleview Farm has
agreed to lease a few acres of farmland to Orange County for the construction and operation of
a soccer field. Representatives of three non-profit soccer organizations have been meeting
regularly as a .subcommittee of the original task force and have developed a concept plan for
development of this proposed field. The group seeks the support of the Board of County
Commissioners for the concept as outlined below, which would become a model for future
soccer field development in the county.
BACKGROUND:
As documented in the Soccer Symposium Task Force Report prepared for the Board of County
Commissioners last fall, there is a severe shortage of fields available in the county. As of mid-
summer 2000, there is only one full-size;field that is generally open to the public. As a follow-up
to the report, Commissioners Brown and Jacobs agreed to meet with members of the task force
to discuss how the existing soccer organizations could work together and to develop specific
proposals for field development. A follow-up meeting was held on February 22 and Diana
McDuffee agreed to meet with representatives from Rainbow Soccer, Triangle Futbol Club,
Durham/Chapel Hill Strikers, the YMCA and the Latino community to begin developing a formal
cooperative agreement between the existing and potential soccer groups, as per the adopted
recommendations of the Soccer Symposium Task Force. This subcommittee has had three
follow-up meetings.
Meanwhile, Bob Nutter -- who had learned that a neighbor's child was traveling to Cedar Grove
to participate in the county Recreation and Parks soccer program -approached the county with
the offer of aten-year lease of land on his farm (at a nominal lease fee of $1 per year). As a
result, the soccer subcommittee decided to look at this field as a model for future field
development. In addition to developing a working cooperative agreement, the group has been
hammering out details of securing funding for the Nutter field.
The costs of development of this field are estimated at $60,000, broken down as follows:
Parking lot $10,000
Field development 30,000
Equipment 5,000
Irrigation 10,000
Maintenance (Yrs 182) 5,000
The soccer organizations are. suggesting that the, three groups (Rainbow, Triangle Futbol and
the Strikers) will contribute $15,000 and will hold fundraising events to secure an additional
$15,000. The group will seek a county match of $30,000.
The groups propose that the Mapleview field will be used by the soccer organizations during the
fall (mid-August through Thanksgiving) and spring (mid-January through mid-May) seasons
from 4 until dark Monday through Friday. The field will be open on Saturdays and Sundays.
The subcommittee noted that Hispanic teams prefer Sunday morning play, which would be
accommodated in this proposed schedule.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
At this time, Board of County Commissioner support is sought for the soccer field development
concept and no commitment of funds is requested. The proposed financing scenario envisions
a county investment of $30,000 as a match to funds raised by the not for proft soccer
organizations. Possible sources of funds for the proposed county match include: the
Commissioner's contingency fund, which has a current balance of approximately $150,000;
funds remaining for facility development from the 1997 bond (approximately $105,000); and the
Recreation and Parks recreation facility improvement account (with a balance of approximately
$150,000).
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board consider support for the
public/private partnership concept outlined for the development of one full-size field at
Mapleview Farm.
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