Soccer Complex Alert

To All Soccer Supporters in Tullahoma;

You need to be aware of something happening in Tullahoma that affects all of our kids. The soccer complex we have been told was coming may not be after all.

First, I need to be very clear and state right up front that I do not know all of the details of what has happened. I am pulling this from the Friday, 10/7/05 Tullahoma News and the comments from a parent at a U8 boys game today (10/8). We have had no word from the City or anyone associated with the Recreation Department on any change of plans or commitment.

First, the facts:

The current soccer complex:

Rogers Group Soccer Complex (RGSC) has been used by Tullahoma Soccer Association (and occasionally by the Middle School teams and the THS teams) for many years. The need to add lighting, restrooms, and a permanent concession stand was recognized long ago and much effort went in to making this happen. Unfortunately the land is owned by the State of Tennessee and they have been unwilling to sell the land or even lease to us on a long term basis. Part of the lease agreement is that all structures will be temporary in nature and will be removable on short notice. The lack of a long term commitment and ability to build permanent structures has stopped any improvement of the RGSC.

A few years ago the city recognized the situation and the focus shifted from trying to obtain the land from the state to finding an alternative way to make the needed improvements. The decision was made to add a new complex close to RGSC. The close location is to allow RGSC to be used for overflow games, allow tournaments, and support expansion of the current TSA league. The new complex would improve the overall situation and offer lighting and facilities to help move the program forward. The new facility would be the primary playing location for TSA, but since the plan only called for 4 fields and RGSC already has 5, the new complex would not completely replace what exists today. The new facility would also be built so that the THS and TMS teams could host tournaments there also, giving them fund raising opportunities as well as increasing the visibility and competitiveness of the teams.

A study was commissioned by the Mayor and Board of Aldermen to complete a preliminary design and cost estimate to fix problems at the Johnson Lane Recreation Area and to add soccer fields. The plan was to add 4 tournament quality fields of varying sizes, a concession stand, and restroom facilities. The plan also included the construction of a new road and safer entrance for the softball fields. This was deemed necessary to alleviate congestion and reduce traffic on Johnson Lane from the current softball fields. This road was repeatedly said to be unsafe because it was too narrow and never designed to accommodate the traffic the softball fields generated.

In the Fall of 2004 the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of Tullahoma approved a Capital Improvements Program that included work to the Johnson Lane Recreation Complex to add 4 soccer fields as well as other improvements that were deemed necessary. There was a preliminary plan and cost estimate generated and the costs were included in the approved plan. We were told that it was done and the complex was taken care of.

This is where we made our mistake as a board. We did not ask you to talk to your Aldermen. We did not ask you to be vocal, visible, and clear with your opinion about building the soccer complex. We didn’t think it was necessary.

That’s the history, now here is what has happened recently.

There was a bond issue notice published in the Tullahoma News about a 5 million dollar bond issue for capital improvements. We were excited; we thought it included the complex. In the Tullahoma News on Friday, 10/7/05 on page 5A an article was published that talked about the bond issue. In the article it says:

“Waggoner Park, converting a baseball field to a soccer facility, $35,000.”

Now we are asking ourselves “What happened?”

First, I have to admit that we do not know what is going on. Based on comments from a parent at a U8 boys game this morning (10/8) the current plan is to convert a men’s softball field at Waggoner Park into 2 soccer fields. To be honest, we don’t know if these fields are intended for TSA, TMS, or a new facility for THS. We don’t know the basis for the cost, the field configuration, or anything else the decision was based upon. Once again, we have had no word from the City or anyone associated with the Recreation Department on any change of plans or commitment. Reading the article in the paper it does appear that the Johnson Lane Recreational Complex improvements have been dropped completely.

Adding a soccer field or two at Waggoner Park for TSA will not resolve the issues we currently have. I don’t have the complete cost estimates of the Johnson Lane improvements, but over half of the cost at Johnson Lane was for building a new road and fixing the entrance to the Recreational Complex to make it safer for the neighborhood and the users of that Complex. This issue does not appear to be addressed at all in the current plan proposals.

This plan does appear to add a field with lights, but not enough for the whole soccer program. We would still have to retain the current complex as the primary playing fields due to the number of teams we have. With two sites we would have to stock and run two concession stands and we still would not have restrooms at our primary facility. While this proposal may be adding something extra that appears to be nice, it does not alleviate the need for the new facility.

The RGSC has 5 large fields with permanent goals. If you count each smaller field independently we have 16 fields in use during this Fall season. Trying to break up the age groups between 2 different facilities will make it much more difficult on parents with players in multiple age groups. If you have kids in different age groups, it would be possible for you to have games scheduled at the different locations at the same time. We would also have to purchase more equipment and materials to maintain fields at two completely different locations.

Adding these fields also does not help us in our quest to bring tournaments to Tullahoma. Tournaments are a major fund raiser for associations and help the local community too. A typical small tournament has 80 – 125 teams of all ages participating. With our current facilities we can’t attract those teams here. While those teams are here they would eat at our restaurants, stay at our motels, fill their gas tanks here, and make a difference in our local businesses. The primary playing fields would still have to be at Rogers Group due to the number and size of fields, so while the new location may help a bit, it doesn’t solve the problem and it adds a whole new set of problems to be solved.

So what can we do? The list of Capital Improvement Projects has not yet been finalized according to the paper. This could happen as soon as the Board of Aldermen’s meeting on Monday, 10/10 at 5:30 in City Hall. The list reflects the priorities as the Mayor and Board of Aldermen see them. If you don’t agree with the list, you need to let them know. If you think we still need the soccer complex and the road improvements at Johnson Lane, you need to let them know and soon, or at least before Monday at 5:30 PM.

I don’t like to be presented with problems without solutions, so I will offer one. You don’t have to agree, this is my personal opinion:

1) Go ahead and spend the $35,000 at Waggoner Park, but make it into a football field for the kid’s football league. They don’t have anything at all and this would be a great use for an excess softball field.

2) Put the soccer complex back in the Capital Improvements Plan. According to the paper $3,150,000 in projects was removed and replaced with other projects ($1.4 million for D. W. Wilson, $750k for Hermitage Dr., $1 million for Johnson Lane). Take the additions back out, put the complex back in, and then fill back in with the new additions.

If you have a better idea, please share it.

In the end, Tullahoma is our town, it is our money being spent, this list is supposed to reflect our priorities. The Mayor and Board of Aldermen are representing us, so it is our responsibility to let them know what we think is important. Last year TSA served over 625 different kids in the Recreational and Select programs with the Fall and Spring seasons. Add the 70+ soccer players in the TMS and THS programs that would benefit from the new complex and we approach 700. I do not know of any other kids’ sports program in any adjacent county or area city that serves as many kids.

Please do not harass, antagonize, or threaten anyone. The best way to make your wishes known is through constructive, positive, and helpful communication. The Mayor and Aldermen represent us, but we have to let them know what we think.

Thanks,

Bob Forde

TSA President