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Memorial South Turf Campaign
This is a call to action asking for support for a field hockey specific turf field at Memorial South Park, near 41st Avenue and Fraser. To show your support please fill out the Submit Email form to the right and come out to the open house at Sunset Community Centre (6810 Main Street) on September 28th, 5-7pm.
Two new artificial turf fields are likely to be developed in Vancouver in the next year. The public process starts this week with open houses for four separate sites to accept public input.
LINK: http://vancouver.ca/parks/news/2009/090916_synturf.htm.
Field Hockey currently has access to only one Vancouver Park Board operated field – Eric Hamber, instead of our previous three in Vancouver. When Livingstone and Hamber were in full use in 2000/01, 3200 hours of time were used per annum on the combined 3 fields. Our deficit without Livingstone is over 2100 hours. With this lack of city facilities, our ability to run programs at a reasonable cost, providing accessible services is severely hindered. Our recreational clubs have capped their programs due to lack of turf time, turning away children and youth.
Field hockey uses water-based turf because it reduces injuries and creates a fast-paced and exciting game that players of all ages and abilities benefit from. With the loss of Livingstone, many of our girls’ high school games are now played on grass fields that are not groomed for field hockey, creating dangerous situations as well as causing frustration in our developing players. Fourteen high schools in Vancouver have field hockey programs with over 30 teams in total.
Field Hockey in Vancouver needs a new field to replace our loss at Livingstone. Memorial South is an ideal location for a quality field hockey specific field that would support children’s programming, youth leagues and high performance tournaments, including international matches.
To show your support please fill out the Submit Email form to the right. By doing this you will be sending an email to the Vancouver Park Board stating your support for a Field Hockey specific field at Memorial South. Your support is critical to the development of our sport in Vancouver!
Copy of Letter to be Submitted to Vancouver Park Board
Dear Vancouver Park Board,
The 2009-2011 capital plan includes funding for 6 artificial turf fields. Four of these are built or in process. We strongly support the continued development of synthetic fields for all field users. However, in addition to the four new fields, in-fill turf has now been installed on the previously field hockey specific fields at Andy Livingstone, for a total of six in-fill fields. In light of this we strongly urge the Vancouver Park Board to designate one of the next two fields as a field hockey specific facility.
Memorial South is an ideal location for a quality field hockey field that would support children’s programming, youth leagues and high performance tournaments, including international matches. A field for our sport in this location would allow us to free up further time at Livingstone for other users and provide a place to play for many children and youth in the South Vancouver community.
We the undersigned request that the needs of the field hockey community be addressed in the development of the next artificial turf fields in Vancouver. Our community has long supported a multi-sport environment and facilities for other sports. The development of a new field for our sport at Memorial South Park is of critical importance to our sport and community.
Regards
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