Middleton Soccer Club asks council to accelerate development of parkland for youth sports

Tom Morford, president of the volunteer‑run Middleton Soccer Club, told the council on Sept. 3 that the club serves roughly 450 youth players across about 42 teams and is operating out of three separate parks. Morford said the club has outgrown available spaces and requested the council prioritize developing a site currently farmed as alfalfa and referenced in the city's comprehensive plan as future parkland.

"We serve around 450 youth players every season," Morford said, describing tournament potential and community economic benefits from centralized fields. He asked the city to advance park development so local kids and families would have a permanent, centralized sports complex.

Council members acknowledged the need but cautioned that converting farmland to a developed park requires substantial additional infrastructure — most notably parking — and likely must wait for the next budget cycle or partnership with Parks & Recreation. Jason Van Gilder, public works director, said roughly 80 acres the city controls are currently being used for an alfalfa pilot tied to wastewater treatment and are unlikely to be spareable in the near term.

Council and the club discussed interim options including coordination with the high school and private donors. The council encouraged ongoing coordination with Parks & Rec staff and asked the club to provide contact details so staff and council could continue exploring sites.

The council took no formal appropriation at the meeting; members asked staff to continue outreach and consider the club's request when scoping future park projects and budgets.