The Shuswap Youth Soccer Association (SYSA) is looking to extend the soccer season on familiar turf.
In a letter to the city, SYSA operations manager Chad Foreman said the organization would like to assume ownership of the artificial turf inside the SASCU Indoor Sports Complex/Memorial Arena. SYSA was one of the arena's regular users prior to the facility's closure due to structural concerns, and the subsequent announcement by the city that the arena will be demolished.
Foreman noted SYSA purchased the turf for the arena and said it holds no resale value and is a liability to the city "as removal and disposal of the turf will cost the city around $20,000-$30,000."
"SYSA will be willing to take on ownership and deal with disposal costs when the time comes," wrote Forman. "We believe we can get some value out of what is left of the turf while our club and the community currently have no field option from November until Mid-April each year."
During council's Nov. 25 meeting, city roads and parks and Salmon Arm Recreation manager Darin Gerow confirmed the turf was at the end of its life.
After some discussion, council tabled a motion to have staff work with SYSA to see if they could remove the turf at no cost to the city.
Coun. Sylvia Lindgren said she had no issue with giving the turf away, but was concerned with where it would be used.
"I would assume this is meant to be an indoor surface and I don’t know if there’s another indoor place to put it, and I don’t know how weather and deterioration would affect the environment…," said Lindgren. "I do have concerns about the materials breaking down and getting into the soils and that sort of thing."
Given an opportunity to speak, Foreman explained how it could be another year before the delayed synthetic field project at Blackburn Park is completed, and that SYSA had a private property in mind where that could serve as a temporary home for the an alternative using the arena turf.
"We have one option that’s out near the airport…," said Foreman, explaining the owner of the industrial property was willing to lease it to SYSA.
Mayor Alan Harrison viewed SYSA's request as an opportunity, saying it could be a win-win.
"We’re asking staff to work with Salmon Arm Youth Soccer… they will certainly come back to us, either group if there’s a problem or a reason it can’t happen," said Harrison. "But I agree with… other councillors that if it’s just going to be thrown out, and we know that not just youth soccer but other field sports are looking desperately for places to extend their season, maybe this is one that can work, so I will support it."
Council voted unanimously in support of the motion.
