Item 9: Resolution Approving PROS Project and Priority Plan

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'D ' i LJ b 1\ C h.,y\) r'V) '-\[lbIDIp <.'."""'''0. EUGENE. DREIiON (Region 53] P.O. BOX 2998 Eugene, OR 97402 April 10, 2006 Council Member: I am the Regional Coach Administrator for Eugene American Youth Soccer Organization (A YSO). Eugene A YSO is the local region for the fastest growing youth sports organization in the nation. We have over 650,000 youth soccer players enrolled over 50 states. In the Eugene region, when I started coaching my daughter four years ago, we had slightly more than 400 players. This year, we have registered over 1,400 soccer players who play Spring and Fall seasons as well as Summer camps. We are a 100% volunteer driven organization. Unlike any of the other soccer clubs in the Eugene area, we do not have any paid administrators, coaches or referees. We provide a soccer program for anyone between the ages of 5 and 19 who wants to play soccer regardless of ability or economic position. Last year, we even introduced our VIP program which accommodates physically or mentally challenged soccer players. Additionally, we are one of three Class One youth sports clubs that the City has directed to provide after school sports for 4J schools. Though we receive no funding from the City or the schools, we are still held responsible for helping to provide after school programs. Because of our long-time belief in the importance of children and their physical well-being, this is a mandate that Eugene A YSO has readily and willingly accepted. However, it is becoming more and more difficult to find adequate soccer fields that are in good repair and not a danger to our players. It is for this reason that I urge you to add funding to the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Project for the explicit purpose of upgrading athletic fields throughout Eugene. We are not asking for the purchase of additional fields. Rather, we are looking to upgrade the existing fields that are currently in Eugene. Many of these were poorly designed and now have become dangerous due to low or non-existent maintenance. The safety of our players, both on and off the field, is of utmost concern. A YSO prides itself on providing a safe environment for its players by completing background checks on all volunteers and training every volunteer to do his or her job. It seems shameful that the fields don't reflect this same commitment to the kids. If these fields were upgraded to artificial turf, we could truly use them year round. Please help us meet the charge that the City has imposed upon us and provide funding to upgrade these existing fields. Thank you, Joe~~ Regional Coach Administrator 541- 484-1149 http://eugeneayso.org