Marble Falls studying renovations for The Greens soccer fields
JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF
MARBLE FALLS — Proposed improvements to The Greens soccer complex on Avenue K highlighted the monthly Marble Falls Parks and Recreation Commission meeting Feb. 4.
But nothing is final until the city council gets a look at the concept later this year.
Parks and Recreation Director Robert Moss showed a drawing of four proposed fields covering the current facility. Those fields will serve 12-and-under players, but when they’re cut in half, younger athletes can play games on them, too.
“We’ll use portable goals, mark the fields if we want to use them for under 10s,” said Granite Country Youth Soccer Association President Bob Fallis.
In addition, sidewalks for a hiking-and-biking trail, improved parking and better lighting will be installed. The plan also calls for playground equipment in the center of the complex. The projected cost for phase 1 is $500,000. The lighting is an estimated $75,000.
The hope is that a grant will be awarded to offset some of the cost, officials said.
Moss said the reason for looking at the current facility was the result of the sports complex study that started last summer. During those discussions, leaders indicated a desire to see the current facilities improved because those fields still would be used even if a complex is built.
If the upgrades are approved, Fallis said it’s possible to host tournaments and draw out-of-town teams.
“We could use it at any time to host 32-team tournaments, weekend tournaments,” he said “That would give us experience running tournaments as well as the opportunity to raise revenue for projects, to make things, help us do such things as lower registration fees or offer more financial aid to the community and individual players.”
The estimated time frame is 12 months, which means GCYSA officials will have to find alternative sites to play.
“I think it’s a problem that can be addressed by the community fairly easily,” Fallis said.
An improved parking lot and hiking-and-biking trail also will serve the Marble Falls Senior Activity Center, which is next to The Greens.
City Manager Ralph Hendricks said the council will take a closer look at the plans during its retreat in May.
In other business, the commission:
• re-elected Dave Rhodes as chairman and elected Steve Manley as vice chairman;
• decided to meet for a workshop Feb. 18 at noon to discuss activities and plans for Spring Break 2013;
• voted to continue a talk regarding citizens parking on the city’s parks’ grass;
• asked Moss to give a profits-and-loss sheet for Lakeside Pavilion;
• and thanked project planner and grant writer Charles Wadkins for helping Moss write a grant asking for money for parks-related projects.
jfiero@thepicayune.com