Dear Editor:
Re: Queen's Park needs to be a true family-friendly place, Letters to the editor, The Record, March 30.
In response to the Allan and Iris Solie letter to the editor, I wanted to add a different perspective.
As a community soccer coach and executive member of Royal City Youth Soccer, I understand the work, dedication and organization required to keep 1,200 of New Westminster's youth active and engaged through playing organized soccer. I also recognize the work of the club members (as well as a $200,000 contribution to the field) and the consultation and support of the City of New Westminster parks, culture and recreation to make a new multiuse year round sports field a reality.
The fact is that we need facilities to keep up with the demands of the citizens of this community. More children are involved in soccer (and field lacrosse, and grass hockey, and slow pitch -), and the traditional grass field cannot stand up to the constant wear and tear of games and training seven days a week for hours per day. The writer's comment that the solution to the problem was for "more crowning" of the grass field where the new artificial turf field exists would not have addressed the issue of how we provide more capacity to our facilities. Grass simply cannot endure the modern demands we place on our sports fields.
On the issue of the "high, ugly chain-link fence," it's interesting how beauty is in the eye of the beholder. As a coach who is responsible for the safety of 15 to 20 young ladies, who train three times a week and play games at that field, I can't tell you how many times I've had to chase rolling soccer balls down the steep hillside and onto McBride Boulevard.
On a dark and rainy mid-November night, I can assure you that this is a dangerous endeavour. Recently, I've made numerous comments to parents and players alike that my favourite part of the new turf field complex is the fence and how this contributes to the effectiveness of our training as we aren't chasing errant soccer balls around the park and onto roadways.
It's great to see New Westminster adding to its inventory of active sports facilities, and I applaud the investment. As a city resident, I relish the opportunity to invite teams to Queen's Park to hear their positive comments. I see the pride that the New Westminster girls have in their field and their park.
Now we don't have to feel like the poor stepchildren to neighbouring communities like Burnaby, Surrey and Coquitlam, who are all adding to their inventory of active park spaces.
In today's busy world, we want our children to stay active, fit and challenged. Community sports time is, for the most part, "family time" when parents come to cheer and support their children's athletic activities. Teamwork and cooperation, success and failure are all components of athletics as life lessons that reach far beyond sports are learned week in and week out.
Another rose garden wouldn't hold any interest for my daughters or my family, but a turf field is a field of dreams, where the conditions are always perfect for a kickaround.
Shawn Cody, New Westminster
