Land For Soccer Association Seeks To Develop Soccer Complex

The Copper Country Soccer Association hopes to purchase or otherwise acquire 12-20 acres of land for a soccer complex.

Why a Soccer Complex?

Almost 800 children ages 4-18 are registered to play CCSA soccer this year. To accommodate these players, the CCSA currently uses fields at the Hancock Driving Park, Houghton High School and Michigan Tech, and occasionally uses fields in Calumet and at Hancock Elementary School.
This creates a variety of problems, including the following:

1. Families with multiple children must often shuttle children around among these various fields.

2. Since the CCSA does not own the fields it uses, the association must compete for field time with other users, such as football, softball and baseball teams, which sometimes leads to conflicts.

3. Since the CCSA does not own the fields it uses, the association cannot place permanent soccer goals on these fields. Consequently, the association uses portable goals, which can be hazardous since they can be blown over by the wind. These portable goals are also sometimes removed by other users of the fields.

4. Since the CCSA does not own the fields it uses, the association cannot control the design and quality of these fields, some of which are rocky and otherwise have poor quality turf.

What the Soccer Complex Will Include

To develop a soccer complex, the CCSA needs to purchase or otherwise acquire 12 to 20 acres of land, which will eventually include six soccer fields. The complex will also include a concession stand, restrooms, an equipment-storage area, a parking area, and a leach field (if a public sewage is not accessible).

What the CCSA Needs from Families and Friends

The CCSA needs help identifying appropriate land that that it might purchase, acquire through a tax-deductible donation (the CCSA is registered with the IRS as a 501c3 nonprofit organization) or purchase at a reduced price with the remaining value taken as a tax deduction by the seller.

Appropriate land would be reasonably level, centrally located for CCSA families, and zoned (or able to be zoned) such that it allows for both recreational use and a concession stand. Ideally, the land would already be cleared and would have good topsoil.

Once the association has acquired the land, it will need help in developing the CCSA soccer complex. The association will need donations of money, materials, and labor for--among other things--surveying, legal consultation, architectural design, landscaping, fencing, and building construction.

The CCSA is working with Keweenaw Community Foundation Executive Director Mary Sue Hyslop on this project and is open to any and all suggestions about land acquisition and soccer complex development. Suggestions may be forwarded to CCSA President Craig Waddell at 482-1636 or by mail to 306 First Street, Houghton, MI 49931.
 

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