Kingsville council is investing $100,000 to improve drainage and playing conditions on two soccer fields at the Kingsville Recreation Complex. Council unanimously approved Monday night to pull funds from the Parks Lifecycle Reserve to rehabilitate fields 11 and 15, which are already out of service this season as part of the town’s field-resting program. The work will include drainage tile installation, grading, topsoil, reseeding and the purchase of irrigation equipment. Parks and Recreation Director Nada Tremblay said leaving things as they are could create bigger problems in the future. “If we don’t fix the fields, there will be loss of season because there’s just so much drainage concerns, and because of the soil compaction, we’re having trouble keeping the fields open after any substantial rain,” Tremblay said. The decision follows a detailed drone survey that found uneven grading, poor drainage and low-lying areas where water collects after rain. Tremblay said the town now has the needed data to better understand what the fields need and how to prioritize their work. “There has been kind of years of just using them, which is great, I’m glad the fields have been used, but at this point we have to take care of them so that we can continue to have sustainable fields,” she said. She cautioned the timeline to open fields 11 and 15 will depend on how the rehabilitation progresses. “It would take a while to fix the fields. There is substantial wear and tear over the years. We can’t guarantee that the fields will be up and running in time for the next season,” said Tremblay. Council heard that staff are consulting with the Kingsville Soccer Association and other user groups to minimize impacts on future seasons while continuing a program that rests two fields each year for maintenance. Last month, LaSalle approved spending $35,000 to treat a grub infestation that damaged several soccer fields at the Vollmer Sports Complex.
