Owen Sound is moving towards taking some preliminary steps and forming partnerships to explore the potential construction of a permanent artificial turf sports field at Victoria Park.
The city’s community services committee received a preliminary feasibility study for an artificial turf field at its March 16 meeting and resolved to recommend council direct city staff work with partners and stakeholders to undertake six steps relating to the potential project, and to examine potential grant and funding opportunities consistent with the study.
The first step outlined in the report by Owen Sound’s director of community services Pam Coulter is to structure a memorandum of understanding between the city, Owen Sound Minor Soccer Association and other parties with a material interest in the successful development of an artificial turf field development project.
Visiting comparable sites to acquire additional development and operational insight, further investigating site conditions at Victoria Park and revalidating the interest of user groups for an artificial turf field are among the other steps approved by committee.
A stakeholder engagement and public consultation completed by Owen Sound as part of its 2018 Recreation, Parks and Facilities Master Plan identified a strong desire for a multi-use turf field that could be developed with a seasonal bubble.
Last year, the Owen Sound Minor Soccer Association and the city partnered to undertake the feasibility study. An RFP was issued to RC Strategies in August 2021 to complete it.
Michael Cleland of RC Strategies shared findings from the feasibility study to the community services committee on March 16.
Cleland says the main advantage to a community for having an artificial turf field is it allows the playing season to be extended.
“In a colder climate like Owen Sound, this is particularly important. Players can get out on the field much earlier in the spring compared to a natural turf field, and they can play later into the fall,” Cleland explains. “Sometimes upwards of three additional months of playing time, for training, practicing, competition or recreational use.”
Victoria Park was identified as an ideal location for an artificial turf field with a seasonal indoor dome, as long as it can be installed over the existing natural football field. Coulter says part of the reason Victoria Park was selected as an ideal location was in-part because of existing parking infrastructure nearby, and the potential for daytime use by school boards.
She explains the idea would be to convert the entire existing football field to an artificial turf surface, while an indoor dome would be in place only over a third of the easterly end of the field for the late fall and winter months.
“I do think the recommendations as they’ve been outlined by (RC Strategies) do represent a really measured and cautious approach, to inch this forward,” Coulter told committee members.
The study concludes there is sufficient demand within a 30-minute catchment area of Owen Sound for both an outdoor and seasonal indoor artificial turf field. Cleland stressed to committee members this type of facility would need to ensure it has regional users to be economically viable.
Owen Sound Minor Soccer, Owen Sound Adult Soccer, Owen Sound Minor Lacrosse, Owen Sound Ultimate Frisbee, Owen Sound Girls Field Lacrosse, Owen Sound Rugby, Markdale Minor Soccer, Walkerton FC, Saugeen Shores United FC and Scenic City Beach Volleyball are among the local sports organizations that completed user group questionnaires to help inform potential facility demand.
“The facility would need to be rely on a regional population of users,” Cleland says. “I want to make that very clear. The population of Owen Sound is probably too small for an artificial field to be financially sustainable.
Cleland told committee members the estimated capital cost required to build a full-size soccer/football field is $1.5-million. To provide a seasonal dome over one-third of the field, the report estimates an incremental cost of $1.06-million.
“Assuming a partnership with a school board is possible, all outdoor and indoor field operating budget scenarios are net positive,” Cleland’s report says. Both the Bruce Grey Catholic District and Bluewater District School Boards engaged in the artificial field turf feasibility study through stakeholder interviews.
Owen Sound councillor and community services committee chair Travis Dodd: “My one thought is, when we have this discussion about MOUs and others who are going to be a part of this, the school board clearly needs to be an essential partner.”
City council will vote on the committee recommendation at its meeting on March 28.