Report to: General Committee                                               Report Date: December 10, 2007

SUBJECT:                          Analysis of Current & Future Provision of Soccer Fields

PREPARED BY:               Allan Seabrooke, Commission Lead, Community & Fire

Services, ext. 7522

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the report titled “Analysis of the Current & Future Provision of Soccer Fields” be received;

AND THAT Council approval the leasing of sports fields at Fletchers Fields as required for the 2008 season to accommodate the loss of use of the Markham District High School soccer fields at a cost not to exceed $7,500;

AND THAT the cost be funded from Strategic Services 2008 Operating Budget account 795-998-4272;

AND THAT staff continue to assess the feasibility of construction of soccer fields on lands owned and designated for schools in partnership with the York Region District School Board and the York Catholic District School Board in advance of school construction;

AND THAT staff report back to Committee on the results of investigations with the York Region District School Board and the York Catholic District School Board on advance construction of soccer fields;

AND THAT Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

1. Purpose                     2. Background                      3. Discussion                        4. Financial

5. Others (Environmental, Accessibility, Engage 21st, Affected Units)             6. Attachment(s)

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is three fold:  to seek Council approval for the lease of sports fields from Fletchers Fields for the 2008 season; to detail the findings from an analysis of the current and future provision of soccer fields; and to present the short and long term solution to the anticipated loss of existing soccer fields in 2008.

BACKGROUND:

The need to analyze both the current and future provision of soccer fields in the Town of Markham was prompted by the impending loss of soccer fields in Milliken Park in 2008 as a result of the City of Toronto’s Milliken Pumping Station and Reservoir Expansion.  In addition, apart from this specific situation, the growth of soccer registration in the Town was continuing at double digit annual increases.  It became apparent, that to ensure an adequate supply of soccer fields in the future, that analysis was warranted so as to develop strategies to facilitate sufficient provision.

Finally, more recently we were faced with developing a replacement strategy for the impending loss of soccer fields at Markham District High School, as a result of York Region District School Board plans to construct a new high school on the two full-size soccer fields.

OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:

Loss of Soccer Fields – Milliken Pumping Station & Reservoir Expansion – Milliken Park

Council will recall that as a result of the expansion of the reservoir and pumping station on City of Toronto land within Milliken Park, the four soccer fields that the Town leases will be lost at the conclusion of the 2008 soccer season for a period of at least three to four seasons.

To mitigate this loss, Council approved a partnership with the York Region District School Board at the Bill Crothers Secondary School.  The essence of this partnership is that as a result of upgrading the planned sports fields with two artificial turf fields and one upgraded natural turf field, all with lights; the Town will enter into a Joint Use & Maintenance Agreement with the Board.  This will facilitate the opportunity for our sports organizations to play on these fields five nights a week and through an extended season.  Weekends will also be available for programmed usage.

The construction of the sports fields at Bill Crothers Secondary School is well underway and is expected to be completed as planned in September 2008.  Staff are currently working with the Board to develop our Joint Use & Maintenance Agreement for the fields.

As well, it should be noted that based on successful negotiations with the City of Toronto, the City of Toronto agreed to replace the four soccer fields at Milliken Park with two full-sized lit and irrigated soccer fields and two irrigated unlit junior soccer fields on top of the reservoir.  The anticipated completion date is 2012-2013.

Replacement Strategy – Loss of Soccer Fields at Markham District High School

The York Region District School Board has advised that they will be proceeding with construction of a new secondary school at Markham District High School.  The construction is planned to commence in May 2008, on the existing two full-size soccer fields.  Effectively, if the project proceeds as scheduled, these fields, and potentially one junior field on the site will be lost from 2008 – 2011.  The most significant impact is for the Markham Soccer Club who is the main user of these fields.

At the June 26, 2007, General Committee meeting, Council formed the Markham Soccer Club Working Group consisting of Councillors Webster and Moretti, Regional Councillors Landon and Heath and Mayor Scarpitti to work with Town staff on strategies to deal with the loss of these fields.  The strategies that have been developed by the working group consist of a short-term solution and longer term strategies that will require additional work and negotiations with other agencies, notably both school boards.

Short-Term Solution

To alleviate the immediate pressures as a result of losing the use of soccer fields at Markham District High School in 2008, an arrangement has been negotiated with the owners of Fletchers Fields Rugby complex for the lease of their fields for 2008.  Fletchers Fields are privately owned by a number of rugby clubs in the GTA and consist of six excellent full-size unlit sports fields.  The fields are located at Kennedy Road and 19th Avenue in Markham.  There is ample parking, washrooms, concessions and a clubhouse on site.  An exact schedule of available time slots will be finalized over the winter; however, sufficient use is available to compensate for the short-term loss of the fields at Markham District High School.

The York Region District Board of Education is projecting that the new fields to be constructed at Markham District High School will be ready for use for the summer of 2011.

Long-Term Strategies Currently Under Investigation

At the June 25, 2007, General Committee meeting Council also approved staff to investigate options with the York Region District School Board and the York Catholic District School Board with respect to their lands in the East Markham area for future sports field construction.  To date, meetings have been held with both Boards and have resulted in the following courses of action:

York Catholic District School Board - Two proposals have been tabled to the Catholic Board and are presently under review (see Attachment 1 for locations).  The first proposal involved the Board’s Elementary School site, which is referenced as Lot 14, Concession 9, Block 108.  The parcel is located east of 9th Line and south of White’s Hill Avenue.  This five acre property is adjacent to Benjamin Marr Park, our existing park, which consists of two soccer fields; a playground and water play area.  Staff have proposed that the Board consider entering into a use agreement on the land with the Town of Markham for three to five years with a purchase option in place that fits the Board’s timetable.  The site is suitable for the construction of two full-size soccer fields with appropriate landscaping and access pathways.  In general, it could provide an excellent addition to the existing Benjamin Marr Park amenities.

The Board has indicated that although they own this property, it is not their preferred location for the next elementary school site in Cornell.  The preferred site is south of 16th Avenue and north of White’s Hill Avenue.

The second proposal relates to the identified Cornell Catholic High School site.  This 12 acres site is on the east side of Bur Oak Avenue and south of the planned East Markham Community Centre and Library. (Attachment 1 identifies location)  This site is part of a plan of subdivision and the current ownership of the land is Mattamy Homes.  The proposal to the Board for their consideration is to construct sports fields in advance of this property which could potentially be used by the community in advance of construction of the actual high school.  Eventually, they could become the sports fields for the school.  In the event a school is not constructed, the area could be developed as an additional park.  The site allocation for sports fields would support one full-size soccer/football field and a second smaller junior field.

These two proposals were tabled to the York Catholic District School Board, in writing, in October.  We are anticipating a reply in December.

York Region District School Board – Initial discussions and a meeting with Jane Ross, Manager of Accommodation Planning Property Development, at the York Region District School Board, has taken place to assess the potential for advance construction of the sports fields at their site.  The Cornell Secondary School site is approximately 15 acres and is located on the east side of Bur Oak and the south side of White’s Hill Avenue (Attachment 1).  The Board has expressed interest in pursuing this option.

A preliminary facility fit (Attachment 2) indicates the potential for two full-size fields pushed to the northeast corner of the site.  In the event that the Board requires space around one of the fields for a running track, the second field may need to be reduced in size to a junior field.  There is also potential to install lights on the more westerly field given the distance from residential.  Staff will continue dialogue with the Board to pursue this option.

Analysis of Current & Future Provision of Soccer Fields

To ensure an adequate supply of soccer fields is planned for given the recent and projected increase in participation rates for soccer clubs in Markham, a high level analysis of current and future provision of soccer fields has been completed.

The analysis has been completed based on meetings with all three soccer clubs in Markham and receiving historical data and future registration projections from the Thornhill Soccer Club, Markham Soccer Club and Unionville Milliken Soccer Club.  Each of these three major clubs in Markham has club boundaries as depicted in Attachment 3.  A summary of registration since 2002 and projections to 2012 are included in Attachment 4.  Finally, the Parks Planning and Urban Design group has supplied the projected number of sports fields that will be added to the inventory through 2012, which are summarized in Attachment 5.

Thornhill Soccer Club - The Thornhill Soccer Club has experienced growth of 40% from 2002 – 2007, but did experience a decline in player registrations from 2006 – 2007.  The overall projected growth for the next five years in Thornhill is low at approximately 100 players annually.  The composition of Thornhill Soccer Club in 2007 is 49% adult and 51% youth and is expected to experience moderate increases with adult reaching 55% by 2012.

This translates into an increased overall field requirement of three fields for the next five years; of which two are senior soccer pitches with lights and one mini pitch.  It should be noted that the move towards intensification will impact these requirements, but it is unlikely that the impact will be felt in this five year window which is being reviewed.

Markham Soccer Club – The Markham Soccer Club has experienced dramatic growth of  41% from 2002 – 2007.  The overall projected growth for the next five years averages 10%, which will result in an overall increase of 380 players annually, representing a projected 66% increase from 2008 – 2012.

The composition of Markham Soccer Club in 2007 is 84% youth and 16% adult and is expected to remain constant over the next five years in terms of overall composition.  The vast majority of the registrations are currently in house league players and as growth continues the majority of growth will be in this category.  This translates into an increased overall field requirement of 14 mini fields and 10 senior pitches for the next five years.

Unionville Milliken Soccer Club – The Unionville Milliken Soccer Club has also experienced dramatic growth of 49% from 2002 – 2007.  The overall projected growth for the next five years averages 12% which will result in an overall increase of 225 players annually, representing a 61 % increase from 2008 – 2012.

The composition of Unionville Milliken Soccer Club in 2007 is 100 % youth and no change is expected over the next five years in terms of composition.  There is a strong rep (competitive) program in this club with 33 competitive teams in 2007, which is an increase of 13% from 2006.  The competitive teams range from U8 to U21 and Senior, boys and girls participating at all levels of Ontario Soccer Association.

This projected growth translates the need for the equivalent of 7 mini pitches and 10 senior pitches.

Summary

In summary, based on registration projections for the three soccer clubs, there is a projected need for the equivalent of 22 mini pitches and 22 senior pitches from 2008 – 2012.  In terms of projected number of sports fields in parks, we expect to add 15 mini pitches and 15 senior soccer pitches from 2008 – 2012. (See Attachment 6)

This translates into a projected deficit of 7 mini pitches and 7 senior soccer pitches.  The soccer clubs (notably Unionville Milliken and Markham Soccer Club) are predicting that the historical pattern of population growth in Markham and increased participation rates in the sport will continue through the next five years.  If this assumption is correct, the additional provision of soccer fields over and above the planned new sports fields in parks will need to be found to meet demand.

There are a number of options that can and are being examined.  The best opportunities currently being investigated rest with potential construction of future School Board properties.  In addition, a location for a regional sports park with a concentration on major soccer pitches should continue.  Finally, the participation rates in slo-pitch, softball and baseball should continue to be monitored in the event that conversion of these fields to soccer could occur.

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS AND TEMPLATE: (external link)

The estimated cost of leasing the sports fields at Fletchers Fields from May – September 2008 is $7,500, which is included in the Strategic Services Operating Budget for 2008.  To the extent that other recommendations contained in this report result in opportunities to construct additional soccer fields, these would be the subject of reconsideration by Council as part of normal future operating and/or capital budget submissions and review processes on an ongoing basis.

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

Strategic Services

Finance Department

Operations Department

Urban Design

RECOMMENDED

BY:    ___________________________________

Allan Seabrooke, Commission Lead,

Community & Fire Services

ATTACHMENTS:

Attachment 1 – Cornell Revised Open Space Master Plan

Attachment 2 – Cornell Secondary School Site

Attachment 3 – Markham Soccer Club Boundaries

Attachment 4 – Summary of Soccer Club Registrations – History & Projections 2008 –

2012

Attachment 5 – Projected Number of New Sports Fields 2008 – 2012

Attachment 6 – Summary of Future Sports Fields Provisions Anticipated & Projected

Needs 2008 - 2012

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