Yorkton Minor Football and the Yorkton Lacrosse Association are looking for a new field to accommodate growing participation in the two sports.
Monday the two organizations made a presentation to the regular meeting of Yorkton Council to make a formal request for municipal help in developing the field they seek.
“Currently, YLA practices on a city owned field behind St. Paul’s school and YMF practices on fields owned by the Good Spirit School Division (GSSD - two practice fields at the YRHS that are not regulation size and Century Field),” detailed a letter presented to Council.
But numbers are growing necessitating more fields.
There are approximately 130 participants annually in lacrosse and 175 in football.
At present Century Field is the prime football field.
“Century Field is the game field – all practices are very limited to using that space as the field conditions worsen drastically the more the field is used. The overuse kills the grass in various parts of the field – mainly right at center field – and this can lead to safety issues for the players as the grass erodes and the dirt area gets extremely hard. With football alone, the field space graciously provided by GSSD is not enough space to practice with all the levels of football,” noted the letter.
Century Field is however central to the sports growth.
“Improvements and regular maintenance at Century Field, the updated grandstands and the Richardson Community Clubhouse are some of the top facilities in the province, if not the top facility. Therefore, it’s in the best interest of GSSD and minor football to stay off Century Field as much as possible and use it solely for game days. YMF has been helping provide maintenance to the field as well as obtaining donations of fertilizer for the main field. Volunteers and donations to YMF are also enabling us to run power from a GSSD owned facility to our spotters’ booth/concession in the very near future,” details the letter.
So a new field is sought, but one close to the existing football infrastructure.
“YMF and YLA are jointly requesting that the City of Yorkton provide a city owned playing surface within close proximity to Century Field, the two practice fields at the YRHS and the Richardson Community Clubhouse that would accommodate both our respective sports. The close proximity to the Richardson Community Clubhouse would also provide YML a more permanent practice space and access to the change rooms and washrooms on a permanent basis,” detailed the letter.
The field size needs of both football (160 yards by 65 yards) and lacrosse (110 yards by 60 yards) are very similar and a field similar in size to Century Field would help alleviate permanent field availability for all levels of minor football and minor lacrosse.
The groups suggest the space that is adjacent to the Lions Ball Diamond by the Kinsmen Arena. It could be a combined space used by baseball, football and lacrosse.
Asked if the two groups would pay rental for a city-owned field, football representative Roby Sharper replied, “obviously we’d rent the field ... pay a rental fee like everybody else.”
But when Councillor Randy Goulden asked if the two groups had come up with a cost to create the field, Sharpe’s answer was a quick “nope.”
The matter was ultimately referred to City Administration to prepare a report with more details.
