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Myrtle Philip field closures concern sport groups

Groups recommends more fields, maintenance in future The growing field problem in Whistler tripped over a divot this week when the Resort Municipality of Whistler made a surprise decision to close the lower fields at Myrtle Philip in order to perform

Groups recommends more fields, maintenance in future

The growing field problem in Whistler tripped over a divot this week when the Resort Municipality of Whistler made a surprise decision to close the lower fields at Myrtle Philip in order to perform some emergency maintenance.

According to sporting groups, a grass volleyball tournament this weekend delivered the final blow to the fields, which they claim were deteriorating rapidly over the summer. Both the adult and youth soccer leagues have been affected by the closure, as has the Whistler Ultimate Disc Society, planned softball tournaments, and physical education classes for the elementary school when the school term begins on Sept. 3.

The closure of the lower fields is expected to last three to four weeks, after which point part of the fields will be reopened once again. In the meantime, both soccer leagues are being moved to the Whistler Secondary school field, which is already being used by rugby and high school sports. While it’s in better shape than the Myrtle Philip fields at the moment, user groups were quick to point out that the high school field is not in the greatest shape either.

Ultimate, which requires a smaller field, is being moved to Spruce Grove. The league season is almost over, but the weekly pick-up games typically continue until the snow starts falling. They used Spruce Grove last year, playing under the lights at night.

Myrtle Philip school will be able to use approximately 30 per cent of the lower fields, including a section that was recently re-sodded and is still in adequate shape.

"It would be difficult to get the lower fields to recover that quickly – part will and part won’t, but most of the damage is due to the hot, dry weather we’re experiencing," explained Bob Kusch of the municipal parks department.

For the school, the municipality has moved up the schedule to complete the renovation to the small upper field at Myrtle Philip for the elementary school. Depending on the availability of the contractor, they hope to have new sod in place within a month.

Sports groups are frustrated because they have been complaining about the condition and availability of fields for years. Some of the ideas proposed over the years include the creation of new fields to spread out the load, improving maintenance, and putting community users ahead of outside renters until new fields can be created.

"Now we’re down to one field for all of the soccer teams and rugby. I’d say the time has come where we really have to think the field situation out, and we have to have a real discussion about what the community needs," said Andree Janyk.

"We have to think about giving priority to community needs over renting the fields out, and, ultimately, the maintenance of those fields," said Janyk, a school trustee and the president of the youth soccer league.

When she was informed on Monday that the Myrtle Philip fields were being closed, Janyk and Bob Calladine were forced to cancel a planned soccer exchange with teams from West Vancouver, find an alternative site for a coaching clinic, and inform the parents of the approximately 250 kids in youth soccer about the time and venue changes.

They also had to organize transportation for the soccer goalposts to Whistler Secondary, as well as find some protective fencing to go around the high school field.

Because the high school field is not in ideal shape, they will have to set the soccer pitch up sideways across the field and extending into the small practice area adjacent to the main field. There is a steep bank, stream, and wetlands bordering the small field as well as a few local bears, and Janyk is worried about what might happen if children chase soccer balls out of bounds.

"Going over the stream to get a ball, it’s not safe for me. I will not put children in that predicament," she said.

The arrangement will work for the short-term, but in the long-term, Janyk has always been in favour of creating new fields. The preloaded area around Spruce Grove has been suggested in the past, but the future of the area is still undecided. "It looks like that’s not going to happen," she said.

The new fields at Spring Creek elementary school are too small for the older soccer players, as is the upper field at Myrtle Philip which won’t be ready until the end of September at the earliest. Kusch says that the municipality is renovating the high school fields next year, repairing the main field and increasing the size of the small field to regulation size for soccer and rugby.

"That will help spread things out a little. I have to say this year we’re seeing more use on the fields, and more demand. Eventually there are going to have to be some additional fields," said Kusch.

Paul Beswetherick, the horticulturist for the municipality, said that there is a slight chance that the Myrtle Philip fields could make a full recovery with cool weather. "The use generally tapers off around this time of year, so there won’t be as many people using the fields. My guess is that it’s going to take a while," he said.

Calladine, who has long been an advocate for more fields, believes that the case has been made. "We got caught with our pants down this year, with nowhere left to go. The municipality said they would build more fields if we could prove there was a need, and we’re showing that need right now. The problem is that it’s not in the budget or the municipality’s five-year plan.

"The three weeks (at Myrtle Philip lower fields) will be spent trying to get a little regeneration going, but we’re probably not going to be able to get a lot of the field back in shape to play on this year. That could take months," he added.

"The fields are booked out regularly, and getting slightly worse every year. It’s a short season, so the field doesn’t get much time to repair itself. Eventually we’re going to have to have more fields."

To deal with these issues, Janyk and Calladine are proposing that the municipality bring back the Park and Recreation Commission, and form a field users group to discuss the issues.

The Parks and Recreation Commission was put on hiatus a year ago last March when it became impossible for municipal representatives and volunteers from the community to find time to meet within the municipality’s working hours. Janyk made inquiries about the group and was told in May that the municipality didn’t see a reason for holding the meeting.

The Whistler Ultimate Disc Society (WUDS) has been complaining about the fields for the past two years, and this summer was forced to cancel its annual summer Alpenglow tournament because they didn’t feel it was safe.

During last season’s tournament, a Whistler player severely injured his ankle in a divot, ripping ligaments and breaking bones. He is currently suing the tournament organizers, WUDS and the Resort Municipality of Whistler for compensation.

"Our problem is that there has been almost no maintenance," said Dan Wilson, the president of WUDS. "Lots of us have rolled ankles this year. We cover the holes with Frisbees when we find them, but there have also been a lot of impact injuries from the hard surface, and cuts and scrapes from playing in the worst parts of the field.

"It’s been hot, but you don’t see the same kind of wear and tear on other fields. We played at a tournament in Osoyoos, which is in the desert, and they had better grass than us."

Although it would be nice to have new fields, Wilson says that more maintenance, especially irrigation, could go a long way towards solving the problem.

"We had rain for a week this summer, and the fields were just beautiful and for a little while after that. Then they dried out and soon they were in just awful condition."

The current irrigation system has had problems in the past, and although those issues were supposed to have been solved by August, the sprinkler system isn’t covering the area it was intended to, said Wilson.

According to Kusch, the municipality fixed the irrigation system this year, and has yet to hear any complaints about the system.

"To my understanding, all of the problems have been solved," he said.

WUDS has offered to increase its field user fees in exchange for better maintenance, but was told that the budget was already in place. The group currently pays $1,400 a year for the use of two fields on league nights and one field during drop-in.

The municipality has also attempted to fill in the holes on the field using sand, but according to Wilson all it takes is one person to run over it and things are back the way they were.

The Whistler Soccer League has three more weeks to get through before the season ends, and according to Richard Middleton of the United GLC team, the players will reluctantly make do with the high school if that is their only option.

"I personally have rolled my ankle twice this season because of the holes (at Myrtle Philip). The maintenance was needed, but I think if they are going to continue to see this kind of use they will have to be completely rebuilt," he said.

"Don’t get me wrong, it’s a lovely, flat expanse of grass and I love playing there, but it needs work. This is Whistler, and should really have some first class fields to go along with the rest of the resort."