Chapples playfield's poor condition worries Thunder Bay residents

Superior Morning8:19Soccer Field Nightmare

He's kicking up a fuss, over the state of soccer fields. Paul Mackett has started a petition to lobby the city into sprucing them up.A soccer dad in Thunder Bay says he's tired of watching his kids play on fields that are in bad shape.

Paul Mackett has started a petition urging the city to make improvements. He said the fields at Chapples are full of ruts, and become unusable when wet.

Games are being cancelled and he worries about injury, he said.

"You have to play at a high speed and maneuver at a high speed on these types of field conditions," he said.

"It's only a matter of time before a youth or an adult ... they're going to get hurt."

Mackett whosetwo sons play competitive soccer in the Under 18 league, and the Under 14 league with the Thunder Bay Chill soccer club plans to bring his petition to city hall next month.

The poor condition of thefields hasbeen a thorn in the side of the Chill, and other organizations, for the past few years, he said.All four fields at Chapples, where his sons most often play, are in bad shape.

'Overwhelming' support for petition

On a recent walkabout of the field, Mackett said"I was just picking up chunks of sticks, large stones, and pieces of debristhat is nowhere near topsoil."

He also noted ateam came from Winnipeg last weekend and they had to cancel the game because rain beforehand had made the field too soggy.

"Sunday morning last week, when we had to cancel those games, and those parents that travelled in to watch their kids play our teams,that was a waste for them," he said.

"You know they brought money to our city," he added. "They stay in our hotels, eat at our restaurantsand they only got to play one game and had to turn around .... because of the conditions," he said.

Hundreds of people have signed his petition and Mackettsaid the response has been "wonderful," and "overwhelming."

Macket said he'd like to see the fields covered in artificial turf, like the indoor fields are, to improve the conditions and extend the soccer season.