A joint effort between Oxford Area Community Schools and Oxford Township Parks and Recreation will soon be providing area residents with some temporary soccer practice fields on Coats Rd.
“These are going to be a place to allow our students and parks and rec to have a place to practice,” said Assistant Superintendent Ron Franey.
Oxford Schools owns approximately 24-acres of land along Coats Rd. The only structures currently on the site are an old farmhouse, once used as the school district’s administrative offices, and a barn. The site has been considered several times as the possible location for a future elementary school.
Franey said discussions for using the land as temporary practice fields actually began almost two years ago. The idea originated with a group of parents looking for space to practice soccer, and was championed by past school board president Ron Etherton. The topic was mentioned between the township and district off and on, but no solid plans were ever made.
“It wasn’t until the last few months that we started working steady on this,” he added.
Oxford Schools had the architects currently working on the district’s bond issue draw up a proposal that included the two practice soccer fields and a concept proposal for a future school. The work was provided free of charge to the district.
“We wanted them to draw the plan so that we may possibly keep the fields if a school is ever put there,” said Franey, “but we hated their first design and had them try again.”
The current drawing, pictured in the diagram, has the two practice fields positioned directly along Coats Rd., two parking lots behind those and a school building even farther back.
“We asked them if that is where they would have put the school building if the soccer fields had not been there, and they said ‘Yes,’” explained Superintendent Virginia Brennan-Kyro during the last regular board meeting. “You see, with all the small farm houses, if the building was any closer to the road, it would look like a giant, cement mall in the middle of the area.”
Plans for whether or not the land will be used for a school building are still four to five years away; however, school officials were assured that leveling the area for the fields will not harm any future uses.
“It’s just moving around some dirt,” explained Brennan-Kyro. “We don’t want those practice fields dictating what we do in the future, so we made sure those fields can come out.”
Franey said the district has already arranged a contractor to level the area free of charge. Anglin Civil Constructors, Ltd., which is currently contracted for the school’s bond issue, was pleased to donate the work.
“This costs the school no money,” said Franey. “We have to confirm yet, but the fields should blanket under our current insurance, so there’s no extra liability.”
“I really, really liked this idea when I first heard about it,” said school board trustee Doug Meyer. “We are the community schools and this is working with the community.”
Oxford Township Parks and Recreation will be providing the stone for the drive and parking lot, the seeding for the fields and the future upkeep of the practice site.
“This is a wonderful opportunity. The schools and ourselves are serving the same community and it’s been great that two local agencies can work together like this,” said Parks and Recreation Director Ron Davis. “Especially because we’re all working to serve the same people.”
Davis added that he will be contacting area businesses for donations of gravel, but the department will have to purchase the seeding.
“I’m just going to try to do the best I can shopping around locally,” he said.
As far as maintenance in the future, Davis said the department will simply be providing some lining and mowing the area.
“One way or another these can be done,” he stated. “It’s not like we’re putting in bleachers or goals, these are just practice fields where people can even fly a kite if they’d like.”
Davis explained that the new practice fields will benefit Parks and Recreation by easing some of the overcrowding in Seymour Lake Park. Reducing the wear and tear on those soccer and baseball fields may actually save the department money.
“This will cost some money, but the pros definitely out weigh the cons,” he said.
Work has already begun on the site, and Davis said he hopes to seed the fields yet this fall. If the weather and timing cooperates, the new practice sites will be available this coming summer. However, if the seeding can not be done until the spring, the fields will not be ready until the following year.
“We really do hope to be ready for next summer,” said Davis, “but I’m not sure we can do that yet.”