Soccer Symposium Task Force Report

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signage, and some landscaping) appears to average between $71,000 and $95,000 per field (1998 dollars). In Orange County, we have actual cost data for development of one full-size field (which is a combination soccer and softball field) at the Efland-Cheeks Community Center. For this field, costs for clearing, environmental testing, grading, seeding, and storm drainage totaled $290,000. The irrigation system cost$40,000 and lighting (with underground wiring) cost an additional $80,000-100,000. Presumably there are economies of scale (lower per unit costs) in developing multiple fields at one site. We also have budget estimates for the athletic fields at Smith Middle School (where two full-size soccer fields are to be constructed, one exclusively for school use and the other to be available to the public after 4 p.m.). According to the budget, the cost of a basic field (grading, seeding, storm drainage) is approximately$53,000; the cost for irrigation is $25,000 per field and the cost for lights is $70,000 per field. In addition, the Soccer Symposium Task Force reached consensus on the following recommendations: • Fields should be located in a disbursed fashion throughout the county in order to improve accessibility for all and to reduce travel time. • There should be multiple fields at each field site so that parents can drop off children of different ages. • Fields should be irrigated and lighted, and sited in an environmentally-sensitive manner. • A promising model for field development is one in which public entities provide basic fields and soccer organizations finish the facilities. • A public-private partnership should be established to explore development of a soccer complex in Orange County, with established soccer interests to take the lead in fundraising for construction. • All soccer organizations in the county should collaborate to provide coordinated soccer programming throughout the county. In this scenario, the county would supply facilities, the private organizations would provide programming. • If county funding is involved, including providing land, scholarships will have to be available to county residents who cannot afford programming fees. • Consistent with the Master Recreation and Parks Work Group Report, the acquisition of land for soccer fields should be included in active recreational areas developed pursuant to future bond issues. As mentioned previously, the Soccer Symposium Task Force is committed to help provide adequate sports facilities for all county residents. Further, the members of the Task Force stand ready to assist the Commissioners in further refining and/or implementing the findings and recommendations contained herein.