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South Lakes Turf Field Plan Hits a Rough Spot
Reston Soccer Association's major pledge issue may put project in jeopardy.
The quest to build two synthetic turf athletic fields at South Lakes High School has hit a snag just weeks before money needs to be in hand for a planned late-May groundbreaking.
South Lakes appeared to have everything in place to build the two fields beginning this spring. However, sources within the project say that Reston Soccer Association has balked at donating the $250,000 it pledged for the $1.4 million project.
Reston Soccer's pledge would be added to the partnership, which includes a $175,000 grant from Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services; $1.1 million from the Fairfax County Park Authority; $50,000 from Reston Association; $25,000 from Reston Youth Association (football); $30,000 from South Lakes High School discretionary funds; and $100,000 from Reston Community Center.
South Lakes High School director of student activities Linda Jones says that without Reston Soccer's contribution, getting the fields built would be "a very difficult thing to do."
"We are in scrambling mode right now," she said. "Spring break is coming up March 25, and we have to have the money in hand April 1."
Reston Soccer president Rick Uhrig did not return requests for an interview.
However a source within Reston Soccer said internal dissension is sinking the project. The source said Reston Soccer's board "never agreed" to donate $250,000, and that some of the board of directors want to take out a mortgage to fund the project.
"We don't have the money," the source said. "There are people on the board saying 'this is not smart.' This is a bloody game. We should not bankrupt the league."
Another source familiar with the project said Reston Soccer also wants more field time as part of the partners' memorandum of understanding, but the partners have not agreed to it.
The source also said it is working on getting Herndon-Reston Youth Lacrosse to buy in as a partner, which may help make up the deficit if Reston Soccer has to opt out or offer less money.
Most Fairfax County Public Schools either have recently built turf fields or are in line to get the county grants that will enable them to build turf fields. Turf fields result in more practice and game time for sports teams, who do not have to cancel due to soggy conditions.
Fairfax County Park Authority Board Chair Bill Bouie said last month that if South Lakes does not get turf this year, it will likely move to the back of the line of the grant cycle. It could be three years before they could be in the running again.
To read about the county's synthetic fields, click here. To read the county's policy on allocating field time to community partners, click here.
Do you have kids who play for Reston Soccer? Where do you stand on whether the group should make a big donation to the turf field effort?
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Skip Endale
1:26 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
1.4 million dollar to fund global warming project put on hold, thats good news.
Andrew
2:59 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
Not sure about the math on this one. Without the 250K the total of the donations is 1.48 Million. Funding like this can be tricky so I might be wrong but the simple math makes me wonder.
Additionally it seems like the money is coming from so many community organizations but in reality 80-90% is coming from tax dollars. When the high school I grew up at wanted turf they worked with the community to pay for it without banking on various county departments. Not the case here since the Park Authority, NCS, SLHS, and RCC are flipping the majority of the bill and they are all primarily funded by taxes. You don't need tax dollars to build turf fields, but around here for some reason it seems like the only option.
Would be nice to know if they actually need the Reston Soccer Association money and if they have considered actual community funding without crying over grant money each time it comes up and they aren't ready with the remaining funding.
David Barry
5:37 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
This is exactly the question. Why do they want $1.7 million to fund a $1.4 million project? Why isn't 1.48 million enough? Even $1.4 million seems high. I wonder how it compares to what turf fields cost at other schools.
John Farrell
4:31 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
Given the paucity of FCPA facilities within RA's boundaries and the sorry condition of the few FCPA facilities therein together with the $700,000 of Comstock proffer money, it should be the exclusive responsibility of FCPS, FCPA and RCC to build both artificial turf fields and light the "community field" at SLHS.
As with so many other County services, Restonians get the short end of the stick from FCPA.
A make-up call is long past due.
Combined that with FCPA & RCC's proposal to eliminate 9 soccer fields at Baron Cameron to make way for the $50 million natatorium, who can blame RSA for having second thoughts about going $250,000 into debt on an illusory promise of field use.
Mary O'Connell
11:19 am on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
RSA has always been put on the back burner with Fairfax County when it came to field assignments and usage...Lake Fairfax turf allotment is a prime example. It wasn't until Arrowbrook (Herndon) became available that RSA was able to almost accommodate their teams adequately. Now, hearing that RSA agreed to fund $250K to support the SLHS turf field just doesn't seem like something RSA would agree to...maybe a side conversation by a former board member. But to have it in writing, with board approval? I highly doubt it. RSA keeps their fees quite low so as to allow more children the opportunity to play the sport. They also offer scholarships to quite a few more players than surrounding clubs. The travel teams pay higher fees and the difference is put toward field upkeep. RSA has a tight wallet...this offer to pay just doesn't sound like RSA. Herndon Lacrosse and Soccer programs have a great relationship with the county and the use of Herndon HS and Hutchison Elem turf fields. It would be great if the county would also have that type of relationship with Reston sports teams and SLHS field usage.
anonymous
12:18 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
And yet, a couple of years ago, RSA raised their fees and specifically said the increase was towards fields. There was an assumption in the community that this was towards turf.
Also, Reston teams often have a choice of 2 or 3 different places they could practice. No, it isn't always turf - but there has always been enough field space to accomodate their programs.
Mary O'Connell
3:42 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
I was a part of RSA for 8 years... That assumption that the $$ was for turf fields was incorrect. At the time of the decision to raise the fees, it was stated that the additional $$ travel team players paid was to help with the cost to upkeep the grass fields (also supplemented by Reston Association)...specifically Lake Newport and Gary Braithwaite (Quartermaster). However, it is a never ending and unfortunately losing battle to keep them maintained due to the high volume of non-permitted adult teams who use the fields when the fields are closed. Sure there is enough field space, but the available grass fields are grossly inadequate for playing soccer.
Part of the registration fees that ALL the players pay is to cover fees that FFX Co charges the club so that we can use the county fields for which we are provided permits. In addition, travel teams also pay a fee via RSA to FFX Co to cover field usage during the non-peak time (the fee rate is based on players who are in-county and out-of-county).
Terp
11:33 am on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
I was surprised at the amount that RSA had offered, as well. But I would have thought that this disconnect would have come to light earlier given that the amount has been reported here and elsewhere for quite a while. I can't believe that SLHS and the County got this far down the road without formal offers from all involved.
RSA Member
4:25 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
knowing RSA as well as I do - nothing surprises me.
I would not doubt that RSA agreed to this but had to change course when they realized they don't have the money.
RSA Member
3:31 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
The first response to this article - too funny - man I hope he wasn't serious....global warming??! Really?!?
RSA did raise fees in an effort to raise funds for the SLHS turf project. So where did that money go? It sure did not go into any kind of field maintenance program. The RSA fees are higher than almost every league in the area with the exception of Great Falls. Yet RSA provides the poorest facilities which begs the question of how viable is RSA in the long term?
While there are plenty of fields there are only 2 in Reston of any quality - Lake Fairfax 1 and 4. The other fields are not maintained at all. The Baron Cameron (Fairfax County run but used exclusively by RSA) fields are a complete joke and are bordering on being dangerous for the players with large holes and sprinkler heads coming up. Lake Newport? Same thing, zero maintenance makes for an embarrassment if games are played on these fields.
The real question I have is how can Herndon High School gather support from the community, provide an awesome safe athletic environment AND be in a position to pay off the mortgage early and South Lakes can't even get the money organized?
Why not do the right thing Reston and install the fields at SLHS?
Bart Seitz
3:57 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
I agree - in part - with RSA member's comments about the need for greater community support for the fields at SLHS. But that support should not necessarily come from the community at large, and instead should come from the SLHS community itself. Why is there no contribution being made by the SLHS boosters? Herndon boosters contributed a substantial share of the funds for our 2 turf fields. New fields constructed at other fields should follow a similar approach.
Terp
1:59 pm on Thursday, March 14, 2013
"The RSA fees are higher than almost every league in the area with the exception of Great Falls."
To what leagues are you referring here? The nearest leagues, Vienna, Loudoun, Chantilly and McLean, are all higher than Reston for recreation leagues ($10 to $35 more). RSA has always tried hard (too hard, some might say) to keep the price down.
I've never found the conditions at Lake Newport particularly poor. It's the county-owned fields that are an embarrassment. Lake Fairfax 7 makes Baron Cameron look like Old Trafford.
anonymous
10:50 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Mary, I was involved in RSA meetings where it was specifically mentioned by officers of that organization that they would use the increase in fees to pay for a contribution towards turf. I can't say if it was ever voted on or signed, but the intent was very much there.
annonymous
11:49 am on Friday, March 15, 2013
The fees were raised this year again for travel and aren't scholarships paid by the county with RSA still charging $25 fee for that. They are for travel teams. Why not post the RSA financials so members can see where the money is going - that way all questions/doubts are put to rest.