Damaged soccer field a headache for soccer club
by Brandon Mayer
North Dundas soccer players are lucky to have access to two fields – one in Chesterville and one in Mountain. The Chesterville field has often been more popular amongst registrants of the North Dundas United Soccer Club (NDUSC), but changes are on the horizon this year due to the poor condition of the Chesterville field.
Similar to the now-unused baseball diamond in South Mountain, the Chesterville soccer field is owned by a local fair board – the Chesterville & District Agricultural Society. The Agricultural Society runs the Chesterville Fair, and is within its rights to prioritize the land for that purpose once a year. However, wet conditions last year meant that some of the activity on the soccer field during the Fair left ruts in the form of tire tracks and horse hoof marks.
When it comes to soccer fields, the focus is not on aesthetics, but ruts in the field can cause players to trip while running at high speed, sometimes rolling or breaking an ankle in the process. Soccer fields used for league play must be up to a certain standard for safety, and this year, the Chesterville field will not meet that standard for most age groups.
“It wouldn't be suitable for anyone playing full field,” said NDUSC past president, Julian Whittam. The Club plans to still run some programming for younger age groups in Chesterville, with groups playing “around the worst of the damage”.
The Township’s Recreation & Culture Director, Meaghan Meerburg, confirmed that she already knew about the ongoing issues, and that the Township has an agreement to offer soccer programs on the Agricultural Society’s land. “Our department is currently working with the Ag Society and soccer club,” she said. “The agreement allows the Township to use the soccer field free of charge, for recreational purposes. The Township is responsible for all bookings and revenue derived from that portion of land. We do not charge minor soccer. The revenue from adult soccer rentals for that field in 2024 was $540 + HST. Both parties agree that the maintenance of this land is the sole responsibility of the Township. The Township has expanded the maintenance to include mowing of the entire grounds.”
When asked if the Township is aware that the field condition in Chesterville makes it unusable for at least some user groups, Director Meerburg confirmed, and once again stated that the recreation and culture department is working with the Society and the NDUSC. However, NDUSC secretary Adam MacDonald has expressed that communications with the Township have stalled.
The issues with the Chesterville field bring to light the problematic nature of the Township providing programming on land owned by other groups. With the Township solely responsible for the maintenance of the soccer field in Chesterville, it may not be deemed a proper use of taxpayer dollars to repair a field that may end up being damaged once again during this year’s fair season. However, having only one fully functional field in Mountain on the western edge of the Township does not adequately serve the local population.
At the April 9 council meeting, a consultant’s report highlighted that the field south of the baseball diamonds in Winchester – which is owned by the Township – could potentially be converted to a Township-owned soccer field that would be much more centrally located. This project was identified as low priority by the report, perhaps because it did not take into account the damaged condition of the Chesterville field. Director Meerburg confirmed that there is future potential for the land in question to be converted to a Winchester soccer field.
Unless progress is made on repairs to the Chesterville field, the NDUSC will make as much use of the Mountain field as possible this season, particularly for competitive teams. The Club has also explored other field options in surrounding municipalities, with division-specific information available on ndusc.ca