En Espanol

by Ann Ansley
Carrboro Commons Writer

Most young athletes dream of playing on soccer fields that professionals like David Beckham and Christie Rampone practice and compete on every day.

Carrboro resident and state soccer referee William Madden stands at the lectern where he asked the Board of Aldermen to consider resurfacing the Smith Soccer Fields. The resurfacing would cost an estimated $1.62 million.
Staff photo by Ann Ansley

Carrboro’s youth might have to dream a little longer.

The Carrboro Board of Aldermen decided at its meeting on Feb. 19 that there was not enough funding available for the town to waive rental fees or to help fund resurfacing the soccer fields at Smith Middle School with artificial turf, a project that would cost $1.62 million.

On Jan. 15, Orange County presented the proposal to the Board of Aldermen to investigate the feasibility of several ways that the town could contribute to the project.

The Board of Aldermen concurred that the artificial turf would be too expensive, even if several local soccer clubs, including Triangle United Soccer Association, Triangle Futbol Club and Chapel Hill and Carrboro Soccer League, would be willing to offer almost $600,000 to help pay for the turf. The price of artificial turf is about $8 per square foot, according to the commissioners’ report.

That total cost, however, does not include any potential costs for design, engineering, permits or environmental studies.
The board acknowledged the importance of soccer to the community but decided that the town could not afford the fields.

“I don’t think having artificial turf would help us make enough money to offset the money we’re losing,” Alderman Lydia Lavelle said.

William Madden, Carrboro resident and certified state referee of the U.S. Soccer Federation, expressed to the Board of Aldermen the importance of soccer in Carrboro as well as his hope for resurfacing the fields.

“Having an artificial field is the best field,” Madden said. “Please make sure it’s done.”

Madden also said that though Smith Soccer Fields had great grass at first, they have now been overused and most of the fields are dirt. As a result, the CHACSL has had to drive to northeastern Durham to play.

The board ultimately decided to send the resolution back to the Orange County Board of Commissioners.

The board also weighed in on a request for the approval of an agreement with the N.C. Department of Transportation to begin conceptual planning of the Morgan and Bolin Creek greenways.

The Bolin Creek Greenway will be a 3 mile, 10 feet wide asphalt path that will extend along Bolin Creek from Estes Drive to Homestead Road. The Morgan Creek Greenway will be a 2 mile, 10 feet wide asphalt path that will extend along Morgan Creek from Smith Level Road to University Lake. Both trails would include links to residential and recreational areas in Carrboro.

The request for approval lacked information regarding potential environmental repercussions of putting in trails in these wooded areas, and the Board of Aldermen voted to refer Bolin Creek Greenway to the Greenway Commission for further research.

“I cannot commit to 10-feet-wide asphalt running along Bolin Creek,” Alderman Jacquelyn Gist said. “What are the environmental consequences of that?”

Both Carrboro Recreation and Parks and Carrboro Vision 2020 are in support of the trails.