Lakeshore Collegiate Institute has scored an $800,000 FIFA artificial turf soccer field with lighting - and a dome.Toronto District School Board trustees voted last week to support its staff recommendation to accept Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment's (MLSE) turf donation to the New Toronto high school.
Trustees' approval ended a toss between the board and the city over which school would inherit the soccer field.
Toronto Council recently approved a city-MLSE agreement to locate the field at Lakeshore Collegiate Institute (LCI) by June 1. If the board refused to accept the site, the artificial turf was to be installed for community sports in a city-selected park.
Trustee Bruce Davis called foul on the play.
Davis argued a greater need for the artificial turf at Islington Junior Middle School where the school field is in disrepair.
But when trustee talk turned to releasing an RFP (Request for Proposals) to seek a development partner to design, build, finance and operate the dome onsite the LCI field by November 2010, Davis said his mind changed.
"For me, the field in and of itself is not a huge boost to the school," Davis said. "But if we can get a dome on the field, that provides the students with year-round access, and it provides the community with a great resource."
The dome development partner could be a soccer association or sports alliance non-profit group, Davis said, that would then run the dome and its permit process and find a corporate partner.
"It's quite lucrative," Davis said. "You can use the dome evenings, weekends, late at night. Those fields are quite big. You can get quite a few soccer teams playing out there."
The board will set aside a $50,000 annual capital fund for the capital renewal-replacement of the soccer field over the 49-year term of the board's property lease.
Davis said the capital fund cost would be more than offset by field permit revenues.
LCI principal Antonio Santos expressed gratitude to the city, MLSE and Davis for the soccer field, on which his students will gain the lion’s share of game time.
MLSE recently secured city approval to spend $5.5 million on BMO Field upgrades, including replacement of the artificial turf with natural grass, relocation of the winter bubble to Lamport Stadium, as well as the donation of one artificial turf field for community use.
Under the deal, LCI will retain its running track and football field.
But the site is not without its issues.
The regulation-size FIFA artificial turf soccer field will be built in an east-west orientation north of LCI's running track, presently the site of the Etobicoke-Lakeshore ward's only off-leash dog park.
Davis said the board will work with the city to relocate the off-leash dog park to an alternative city park.
At present, city staff are reviewing applications submitted by area dog owners seeking off-leash areas at RL Clarke Water Filtration Plant on the Lakeshore Grounds and at Humber Bay Park West.
Traffic and parking could become issues, Davis said.
Students and the board retain exclusive use of the soccer field during school hours from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
City use is exclusive in July and August, and includes use by the Canadian and Ontario soccer associations, as well as community recreation and sports associations and clubs.