From our discussions, it appears that the only resolution that the CSC, a private (invitation only) travel soccer club with approximately 300 players, will accept is for a complete change in the policy regarding use of soccer fields at Heritage Park. This policy has been in effect since Heritage Park was opened in the early ‘90s. Teams have never been allowed to practice on the game fields.
Unlike the CSC, the MCSA is open to all players of Montgomery County who wish to participate in soccer. At present, MCSA has in excess of 2, 000 players. Heritage Park’s fields were originally designed for a potential 1,100 soccer players. There are now over 2,500 youth soccer players in Clarksville that use the Heritage Park fields on a regular basis.
Although there are fields designated for practice at Heritage Park, the majority of the fields are reserved for game, league and tournament play. These games and tournaments are played by MCSA, CSC and teams from around the region. These fields should be kept in the best condition possible to provide a safe and enjoyable playing surface for league games and tournament play. Our staff at the Parks and Recreation Department has evaluated the potential for damage to the fields and has determined that opening up the reserved game/league/tournament fields for practice would make this virtually impossible.
Because of this, we have tried to make other accommodations for the CSC. We have offered to add practice fields at other parks such as Edith Pettus, BelAir and Liberty. We have even discussed with CSC the possibility of requesting additional funding from the City Council to increase the number of lighted fields at Heritage Park for expanded use. None of these offers have been acceptable to the CSC.
I also want to point out that the MCSA, with its 2,000 players, has not indicated that it has a problem with the current policy regarding the use of the fields at Heritage Park. In fact, MCSA utilizes dozens of practice locations across the City. While the City is amenable to following up with any of the offers that have been made to date and will consider any others that are submitted by either the MCSA or the CSC, the CSC has been completely unwilling to compromise on this issue.
The Parks and Recreation Department’s policy is designed to allow for maximum use of the park facilities by the public in the safest, most efficient way possible. In order for the Heritage Park soccer fields to be maintained in the condition needed for game, league and tournament play, specialized turf management is necessary. That simply will not be possible if we open the game, league and tournament fields for practice by all of the soccer teams and other sports teams, i.e. lacrosse and rugby, that might then wish to access those same fields for their practices.