Gainesville Soccer Alliance Fields of Dreams becoming a Reality

Soccer is the fastest growing youth sport in America. Kids are playing on every patch of green grass all over Alachua County and there just simply are not enough designated fields for regulation games. But that will soon change thanks to a unique cooperative effort between the Gainesville Soccer Alliance (GSA) and Alachua County. On Friday, December 2^nd, under a gorgeous sunny sky, the Alachua County Commission and the Gainesville Soccer Alliance (GSA) hosted a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the start of construction for a 6-field soccer complex at the Jonesville Park Site on 241 north. County Commissioner Lee Pinkoson and UF Soccer Coach Becky Burleigh were on hand to speak to the crowd of delighted soccer families. Also in attendance were representatives from participating banks, construction and engineering companies, county public works staff and local neighbors. Gator Domino graciously provided pizza and drinks for the excited crowd adding to the festive atmosphere. Appropriately, a collective of soccer players and adults who joined forces to build the fields, tossed the first shovels of dirt.

The project has been the dream of many involved with Gainesville soccer, but until recently one that seemed unlikely to happen. However, when the ½ cent tax failed last year, it was the green light for Fred Shore, whose daughter plays for the GSA hotshots, to push forward with the dream. Through the guidance of Fred and past GSA president Darryl Butt, complaining about lack of local fields was converted to action. Without guarantee of payment, the Genesis Group engineered a site plan for Jonesville Park and GSA approached the County with the idea financing and building soccer fields. The plan was approved and GSA successfully raised the funds necessary to be considered for a loan. In a leap of faith, a cooperative of five local banks, Mercantile, Compass, Millennium, Alarion and Capital City joined to provide a combined mortgage total of $550,000. In addition, Alachua County will use a previously secured park specific grant of $255,000. GSA will maintain the right to manage the fields and concessions, but they will belong to the people of the county to use as individuals or rent from the club. The Alachua County/GSA Soccer Fields of Dreams truly are a remarkable effort of community cooperation.