University plans new sports field

Artificial turf surface will give student and community teams more time to play

UVic students should be playing a lot more soccer, ultimate Frisbee, and other field sports in the future, if final approval is given over the summer to replace the warm-up track and infield behind the McKinnon Building with a double wide artificial turf playing field.

In addition to providing much-needed recreational opportunities for university students, the artificial turf would be available to community sports organizations such as youth soccer and field hockey clubs who are desperately short of suitable playing surfaces.

The new playing field would also assist UVic's school of physical education to secure adequate field time for its classes.

"We haven't got enough field space to meet the recreational needs of our students right now," says UVic's director of athletics and recreational services, Wayne MacDonald. "The rec leagues fill up as soon as registration opens and we carry huge waiting lists for everything."

The cost of the 99 x 150 metre artificial playing surface is an estimated $1.9 million, to be funded by increases in the student athletic and recreation fee approved in the university's 2002/3 budget. Final approval of the project depends on construction tenders and the calculation of other costs.

MacDonald expects project tenders to be sought in August and a possible start to construction in early September. The field would be ready for play by late November.

While drawing enthusiastic support from field hockey, soccer and other field sport clubs, the proposal to replace the warm-up track has raised some concerns within track and field organizations and among recreational joggers and walkers. MacDonald says these concerns came up at an information session held in early June with representatives of neighbourhood, track and field, and community sports organizations to discuss the proposal and its implications for users, and to identify needs and concerns.

MacDonald says that athletics and recreational services staff are attempting to meet the community needs by opening up the Centennial Stadium track to community users and track and field clubs. The stadium track has not been freely available for non-university use before now. MacDonald says that university staff have also been in contact with Oak Bay Parks and Recreation, which would welcome more runners, joggers and walkers on the underused track at Oak Bay Secondary School.

"We're working hard with the track and field community to do whatever we can to meet their needs and the needs of recreational users," MacDonald says. "We could be looking at a win all around here that would accommodate community track users, create more recreational opportunities for students, and provide community sports groups with better access to suitable playing fields. That's not a bad outcome from one proposal."