After hearing some public input at its Tuesday meeting, the Pella City Council discussed two main options regarding the future of a local recreational soccer field.
During the policy and planning process, council further considered whether to renovate the current Pella Soccer Complex on Neal Drive at a cost of about $1.3 million or add new space to Pella Sports Park at a cost of $2.8 million, and based on conversations near the end of that discussion, it appears council is leaning toward renovating the current facility rather than expanding Pella Sports Park.
The city's fall football and Iowa Rush programs are expected to attract nearly 1,000 participants to the sport in 2024. The current Pella Soccer Complex opened in 1998 after a citywide fundraising campaign, and while the current space, which includes 10 fields, is primarily used by the Iowa Rush through a lease agreement, the city's programs have been based at Pella Sports Park for nearly a decade.
According to city officials, “The aging irrigation system has failed multiple times and is no longer able to provide the water needed to keep the turf healthy and safe to play on. Additionally, over time, material has been added and the soil has settled, resulting in an uneven surface for the field. The Pella Soccer Complex was closed in the spring of 2024 due to safety concerns regarding the condition of the field. Iowa Rush South Soccer Club activities have been relocated to Pella Sports Park until improvements can be made.”
The city's current five-year plan focuses on replacing the irrigation system and paving fields, as well as spending about $1.3 million to pave the complex's parking lots and entrances, which will be paid for with general obligation bonds. The goal is to complete the project in two construction seasons.
Another option would add six soccer fields, paved parking and additional restrooms to the east side of Baseline Drive, a $2.8 million plan. But the city could offset some of those costs by selling the 27 acres of land that the current complex sits on. “Consolidating all athletic facilities into one complex would improve maintenance efficiency, provide convenience for families with children attending multiple programs and potentially increase tournament opportunities,” city staff said in a memo to the City Council.
Either way, depending on how things go, a referendum may be required on whether to renovate or build a new building.
Read the full memo here.
