Airdrie City council is seeking to accelerate the timeline of a $2-million artificial turf field project set to open in August of 2021.
“It sure would be nice to cut the ribbon real quick,” Mayor Peter Brown said. “We are going to be Canada’s healthiest community – this provides another opportunity for our community to connect, to socialize, to be committed.”
With $1 million in expected grant funding from the province and $250,000 from the City, the society will still need to raise approximately $750,000 to fund construction, according to Airdrie Turf Field Project Society president Christopher Glass. He said fundraising efforts have already gotten underway, and the community has stepped up to show support for the initiative – including the local athletes and fans who attended the meeting in jerseys as a show of commitment to the project.
“Despite this being a topic for 15 years, it seems to me there was always a bit of a divide between teams or tiers or whatever – it warms my heart to see everybody pull together,” said Coun. Al Jones. “That, alone, leads me to believe, Mr. Glass, that there’s nothing you can’t do if you put your mind to it.”
Brown, suggesting he’d like to see the City increase its contribution to the project, said council has provided more funding to other groups in the past.
“If there’s an appetite to support this more by City council, we’d gladly lessen the burden on us,” said Glass, who presented to council at the Aug. 19 regular meeting. “But we really need this to move forward, and we’re willing to come up with the $750,000, if need be.”
The project would see a new artificial turf installed over the existing grass field at Ed Eggerer Athletic Park, the outcome of which would be a more durable, safer playing surface for local athletes, Glass said. He backed up this claim by citing studies that indicate artificial turf fields result in fewer ACL injuries, long-term injuries, severe injuries and concussions.
“They are a much safer product than natural grass,” he said.
According to Glass, the project won’t only improve the lives of area football players – the society believes the facility will offer an economic boost to the community, bringing in additional revenue to local businesses as Airdrie grows as a sports tourism destination.
“An artificially-turfed field is another step towards economic growth that benefits everyone,” he said. “With proximity to the YYC airport, we make an affordable alternative to Calgary to hosting provincial, national and international events.”
The facility would also offer an estimated 1,900 hours of potential rental revenue totalling $130,000 for the City, Glass added.
A feasibility study funded by the society will be conducted by the City to kick off the process, which will determine the best way to move the project forward. This will likely begin in November, Glass said, with the results presented to council the following spring.
By a unanimous vote, council passed a motion endorsing the feasibility study to begin the process, directing staff to attempt “to speed up the process if possible.”
