The Alexandria Soccer Association is asking its thousands of members to push for more (and better) fields for recreational use in the City of Alexandria.
In a letter to members sent Tuesday night, ASA wrote:
"Alexandria youth and adult sports programs are in dire need of added field and court space capacity to better support you and children in our community. The shortage of all-weather year-round fields with lights, as well as gym space, is so severe, relative to the growing population/demand, that leagues and programs have been impacted in the following ways:
- forced to cancel more often due to inclement weather
- reduced hours of play for program and participants
- hosted programming outside the city
- scheduled more participants on fields concurrently than ever, ultimately reducing the quality of the experience."
Alexandria officials are considering converting two grass fields at Eugene Simpson Stadium Park, east of Del Ray, to synthetic turf fields with lights. The changes would allow athletes the opportunity to use the fields sooner after inclement weather and later into the evenings year-round. In addition, Alexandria city staff have recommended adding lights to some fields that are currently unlit.
City council is in the process of setting its budget for the next year and for future capital improvement projects. Adding lights and converting grass fields to turf could cost millions. The 2023 proposed budget includes $2.82 million in sports field maintenance, specifically, and another $3.66 million for park grounds maintenance.
It is likely that such significant changes from grass to turf and additional lighting would fall into the Capital Improvements budget, which is longer term and does not at this point include such changes to Simpson park or other fields.
"We need your help now to ensure that these efforts get fully funded and installed in the near future," ASA wrote in its letter, asking every family to send a note to Mayor Justin Wilson and city council members.
Stadium and field lighting has not been without controversy in Alexandria. After years of legal battles regarding light pollution and nighttime game noise, city officials and residents came to an agreement in 2020 regarding installing stadium lights at Alexandria City High School. The Titans played their first game under the new lights in September 2021.
