Rain delays hamper Jackson soccer park

Wet weather is delaying work on Jackson's unborn soccer project, but city and local soccer representatives are beginning to finalize the details on the 16-field complex.

An advisory committee has been formed to discuss the specifics of the park as well as long-term coordination. The committee met for the first time Tuesday, discussing topics like what kind of turf will be best suited for the park.

"I think the committee is a great idea," said Jack Litzelfelner Jr., the president of the soccer park association. "It's a group that consists of representatives of the local soccer community who will be making some of the critical decisions not only about the construction of the park, but also will help coordinate the use of the park when it's complete."

Shane West Anderson, city park director, said the meetings will have a bearing on long-term use.

"The reason people come to the soccer complex is to use the fields. So, we want to get the best quality for that use, both for now and for the future," Anderson said. "We want to make sure the fields can take the intensity of play. Each year, we see more activity in soccer."

Workers haven't been able to get to the park yet this spring. About three more weeks of grading is still needed before the project can move forward.

The soccer park association, comprised of soccer parents frustrated by the city's lack of available soccer fields, raised $100,000 and services to complete phase one without the city's involvement. That includes acquiring the property and grading the fields. By doing so, the association also qualified for a federal grant that will contribute $150,000 to the project.

However, before that money can be used, the city must own the property. The association wants to finish the grading work before it hands over the property because it doesn't have to abide by prevailing wage laws like the city does.

The $150,000 will be used for phase two of the project, which includes an irrigation system and a well. The city already has provided titles to the site.

"We fully expect the grant to fully fund phase two," Litzelfelner said.

As far as the timing, Litzelfelner said a fall opening looks unlikely.

"It will take an absolute miracle to be able to play in the fall," he said.

Litzelfelner said the fields probably won't be irrigated and planted until the summer. The work that needs to be done requires that the soil be "bone dry" Litzelfelner said, which is difficult considering the park lies in a flood plain.

"When you're in a flood plain and it rains like it does in Southeast Missouri, you can't do much of anything to the soil," Litzelfelner said.

Litzelfelner said a few bureaucratic issues have slowed the process, but more than anything the weather has held back the park. At one time, park organizers hoped for a 2003 fall opening. Now, it looks more like spring 2005.

"So much of it has been out of our control," Litzelfelner said.

Litzelfelner made mention of a phase three of the project, which could get underway after the opening of the park. Phase three would include a concession stand and a paved parking lot.

bmiller@semissourian.com

243-6635