PELLA — Local soccer fields became a central topic of discussion at the Pella City Council meeting Tuesday.
At the public consultation session, several families and neighbors expressed concerns about the lack of usable fields in Pella, especially as the sport continues to grow. Proposed solutions on the agenda include making needed repairs to the complex at an estimated cost of $1.3 million, or building new fields at the Pella Sports Complex at an estimated cost of $2.8 million.
“We are very fortunate to have great organizations here in Pella that provide community activities like soccer outside of the classroom,” said Shelby Danes, one of the parents who spoke at the comment session. “We are concerned that many facilities need to be upgraded and that we don’t have the ability to host soccer games on a safe field with community support right now.”
According to the families, the lack of playing fields is also due to the quality of the pitch at the football complex, which is also plagued by multiple breakdowns in its irrigation system.
“If you’ll pay attention, we don’t have any usable soccer fields right now. We don’t have soccer nets set up, except at the high school (Pella High School has one), but we have about 600 to 800 kids, give or take. We have a playground,” another speaker said. “We’re not asking for much right now. We need something now, not something we can argue over for 10 years or more to get funding. We need it today.”
Lack of parking at the Pella Soccer Complex was cited as a problem, with drivers often parking their vehicles on the grass, creating potential hazards.
“I grew up playing here and it’s a safe place, and I want to see this place continue to grow,” said Bentley Paschal, a youth soccer player who spoke at the city council meeting. “And I just got a chance to play on a nice soccer field where there’s not too many people and there’s only one or two fields that people can play on.”
During the discussions, Mayor Don DeWaard acknowledged the problems with the Pella soccer complex while ideas were discussed to change the situation.
“I went down there with some football people to take a look at it and saw the ruts and everything,” DeWaard said.
“I think it’s a unique situation right now because in my time on council it’s rare that we hear neighbors say with passion, ‘Don’t take this away from our neighborhood.’ I mean it’s amazing and kind of nice to hear and the neighbors want you to stay and the club wants to stay — if that’s what I’m hearing — then I think we should stay.”
Donald Promnitz is associate editor of the Ottumwa Courier and Oskaloosa Herald. He can be reached at: dpromnitz@ottumwacourier.comFollow him on Twitter @DonPromnitz.
