Some years are better than others, but the issue of field maintenance by the City Recreation Department goes back decades.  Once again, we find our young players slogging through tall, uncut grass for soccer games and practices.  Clubs rent these fields from the City and the City is supposed to maintain them.  Unfortunately, it's not happening early enough or often enough.

We recently discovered that the City's maintenance contract doesn't even start until the first week of June.  By then 60% of the soccer season is completed.  Why not start as soon as the grass NEEDS to be cut instead of simply going by a pre-determined schedule?

What effect does tall grass have on the game and the players?  If you're a soccer parent, you'll already know this.  The ball doesn't roll well in tall grass.  Tall grass also hides the surface of the field, which is far from perfect at most locations.  Kids are stumbling over because they can't see the ground.  Tall grass also makes for a lot of mosquitoes.

It's time to send a message to the City about this unnecessary and completely preventable problem.  Contact the Alderman in your area and let them know about this.  Call 3-1-1 and complain about the condition of the fields.  Email the Mayor's office.  With a big enough voice, we can hopefully get them to engage the user groups and come up with a solution.  If you stay silent, nothing will change.

Thank you

Deerfoot Soccer