No easy solution

Instead of a much needed make over of the two Terra Cotta soccer fields, the city may decide to add new lighting for next summer should the city budget allow it. The city of Dollard des Ormeaux, meanwhile, will be installing their second field turf next spring at Sources High School.

Terra Cotta's new look which will eventually include a synthetic field turf, has been in the works since late 2006. At the time the city aimed to have the turf ready by 2008, but budgetary restrictions have caused further delays, according to Mayor Bill McMurchie.

In order to afford field turf, Pointe Claire must apply for an infrastructure grant from the provincial government, according to the Pointe Claire Amateur Soccer Association (PCASA) president Philip Lalonde. Expenses for the project were estimated at $1.1 million, The Chronicle reported early in 2007. Today the amount has risen by $832 717 to $1 932 717, according to a city hall agenda from last Oct.

Infrastructure funding was available this year; however, the city opted to use the provincial subsidyfor one of their pools, according to incumbent Jaques Cartier MNA Geoffrey Kelley. Pointe Claire will have to apply for additional financial support in 2009 to renovate one of the Terra Cotta fields.

Presently, Terra Cotta may have new lighting installed, provided the city “does not go over budget,” said McMurchie.

The contract was tendered to Les Excavations Super, a civil engineering firm based in NDG.

Last summer Terra Cotta's main field had to be closed for most of the season. As a result, the PCASA, one of the largest in Quebec with 2500 members, had to cancel and reschedule many games and practices. In turn, this added pressure on Pointe Claire's other fields that are already deteriorating. "There was an issue (last year) with finding enough fields to practice," said Lalonde in a email. "(To compensate, the city) put better drainage into Valois and as a result we were able to have more events on those fields."

As the PCASA continues to find ways to improve field conditions, McMurchie acknowledges renovations are needed. "The city realizes artificial turf would result in less use of other fields, and would reduce maintenance costs," said McMurchie. "Investing in turf is big money; we have to conduct the necessary research."

In Dollard, the city and Sources High School in the Marguerite Bourgeoys School Board struck an agreement to build a second field turf in the municipality. Both the provincial and municipality government will split funding in half; Dollard and Sources High School will share scheduling. "We've been asking (the provincial government) for a long time," said Dollard mayor Ed Janiszewski. "It was the school’s idea. (The field) will serve the school and community. It was an ideal location."

Sources High School is located next to Centennial Park on Lake where many summer activities are already held.

Dollard attempted to receive funding for a pool to hold water polo and synchronized swimming events, "but didn't get it," added Janiszewski.

Construction of the new field is scheduled to begin next spring and will be ready by late summer, 2009.