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Thru the efforts of a group of parents and sports enthusiasts, and volunteers, a soccer/football field was constructed in the fall of 2007.
CITIZENS RALLY TO CREATE A NEW SOCCER FIELD A group of citizens approached the Crystal Falls City Council at a special meeting on August 22 and asked permission to create a soccer/football field at the Runkle Lake Park Complex. Funding of $15,000 for phase I of the project was requested from the city to purchase top soil, seed and irrigation materials, and permission for city work crews to assist in construction. Debbie Smithson, spokesperson for the citizens, presented the plan for the soccer field with vocal support coming from the Youth Soccer Association (SAY), Crystal Falls youth Football, Community Schools, Forest Park Schools, Crystal Falls Softball Association, and the heads of the city’s park, public works and electrical crews. Smithson gave a convincing presentation on how soccer is a growing sport in our community with the league presently practicing at the school which is not regulation sized field. Also the youth football program needs a place to practice as there are currently 3 teams using the outfield of the Runkle Lake Softball Field. The shape of the outfield restricts their movement and has led to extensive damage to that field. The new field will be utilized by both the football and soccer teams for practice, and hopefully can be utilized as a home soccer field in the future. Presently there are over 120 Crystal Falls area youth who drive to Florence for their home games. Phase I construction began on August 23 and was completed on September 15. It included cutting and clearing trees, relocating a recreation trail, removing and hauling stumps away, stripping existing top soil, surveying the field, picking debris, hauling in and leveling additional topsoil, installing an irrigation system, dragging, testing the soil, fertilizing, seeding, rolling and mulching the feed. More than 100 individuals volunteered and helped in the construction. Had it not been for all the volunteers, donations and in-kind service the cost for phase I would have been over $40,000. The full list of donors can be seen below. Phase II construction, which shall be funded totally by donations, includes the construction of an irrigation control shack, a permanent fence and a donation/volunteer sign. Phase II is projected to cost approximately $15,000. It appears that enough donation and grant money have been committed which will make Phase II a reality yet this October. A volunteer project of this nature to be completed as quickly as it did and within budget is surely a tribute to Crystal Falls, surrounding townships and villages, our citizens, and area contractors. A sincere thank you to all the people that helped or contributed.
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