Parents tell Centralia council Stevens Soccer Field entrance, facilities are unsafe and need upgrades

At the Centralia City Council meeting on Jan. 28, parent and resident Katie Moore asked the council to address recurring maintenance and safety problems at the gravel entrance to Stevens Soccer Field and the adjacent Centralia Little League batting cages.

Moore said city crews had applied chip seal in spring but large potholes had formed within a week. She told the council she measured and photographed potholes at the field entrance that were “6 inches deep at a minimum” and said practices for soccer and baseball resume next month. "You don't even have to steer and you are just going like this through them," Moore said.

Moore said she has been contacting the road department weekly and has discussed a permanent fix — such as a paved entrance apron 10–20 feet off the paved road — with city staff member Kim Ashmore. She acknowledged a paved apron is not in the current city budget but argued the recurring maintenance costs and heavy traffic justify a longer-term solution.

She also raised concerns about site amenities: Moore said the soccer fields lack running water, have no usable signage (signs have been spray-painted and vandalized) and rely on a single porta-potty that she said was filled with discarded needles and other waste and accessible only with a coach’s key. She told council the program has over 500 children registered for youth soccer and that the program does not generate surplus revenue to fund field repairs.

Moore said a roughly $2,000,000 grant led by Peter Abarno went to the Centralia School District and paid for baseball field improvements, but no money was spent on the soccer fields. She suggested creating a separate entrance from the Century CrossFit/Thorbecks side behind the concession stands for player access and offered to provide photos and measurements to staff.

What staff said or offered: Moore said she had been speaking with Kim Ashmore about options. The meeting record shows Moore offered to share measurements and photos with staff; no formal staff commitment or council motion was recorded during the meeting.

Why it matters: Parents and coaches worried about hazards at the field entrance and lack of restrooms ahead of the upcoming season. The field is city-owned, and parents said limited amenities reduce concessions and supervision options.

What happens next: Moore said she will provide photos and measurements to staff. Council did not take formal action during the meeting.