Jackson applies for grant for soccer fields project

JACKSON, Mo. -- If a grant the Board of Aldermen has agreed to apply for comes through, Jackson area youths could be playing on 19 new soccer fields a year from now.

The Jackson Soccer Park Association plan calls for building the fields of varying size on 27 acres donated to the city earlier this year by the Jackson Industrial Development Corporation. The land is located on the south side of the city near the Coca-Cola plant.

Only 25 of the acres are needed to qualify for a 100 percent match through the Land & Water Conservation Fund grant, leaving 2.4 acres to the city.

The grant will reimburse up to 45 percent of the cost of the project, which is estimated at $169,000.

Last year, more than 800 youths registered to play soccer in Jackson, and another 125 youths played on select teams. They currently play at three different locations in the city. The soccer park is an attempt to consolidate the playing sites in a facility that would be one of the best in the state.

Tuesday night, the Jackson Board of Aldermen agreed to apply for the grant on behalf of the soccer group. Speaking on behalf of the soccer organization, Dr. Sam Duncan thanked the board while cautioning that competition for the grants is extremely stiff.

In other business:

Mayor Paul Sander recognized fire chief Brad Golden's achievement in completing the four-year Executive Fire Officer Program conducted by the U.S. Fire Administration's National Fire Academy.

Sander named 12 people to the Highway 34/72 Improvements Committee, which will recommend changes in the Missouri Department of Transportation plan for the highway. Named to the committee were: Sander, Alderman Kerry Hoffman, Alderman Joe Bob Baker (chairman), Alderwoman Barbara Lohr, city administrator Jim Roach, assistant city administrator Larry Koenig, Chamber of Commerce executive director Ken Parrett, Jim Maurer, Janet Wendel, Cape Girardeau County Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones, Bill Schabbing and Kenneth Englehart.

sblackwell@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182