Cameron Fuqua, president of the Saint Andrews Soccer Club, told the commission the club needs a short-term resolution to guarantee public access and limit organized athletics so that 150 youth players have a secure place for spring season play. "We want the city to enter a resolution that restricts the amount of organized athletics and guarantee the rest of the time to be public use," Fuqua said, describing a proposed combination of a $40,000 re-sodding investment, maintenance commitment and community-benefit proposals (scholarships, history sessions, playground donation).

Residents and commissioners pushed back on key terms they say were reported in the club’s outreach: several officials and neighbors said an apparent request for a long-term, soccer-only arrangement (described by some as a 10-year exclusivity) would be unprecedented and unacceptable. Commissioners emphasized the city will not rush an unusual sole-use agreement without broader community review.

Safety and site readiness: commissioners and staff said recent inspections found evidence that the field had been filled with new soil and may not have received all required DEP testing; one commissioner said there was debris under the top layer and that staff need to confirm whether the surface is safe for organized play. The city said a new parks, culture and recreation director is joining staff and will review the field before any long-term arrangement is finalized.

Alternatives and near-term relief: staff and commissioners proposed immediate alternatives—making other city fields available in the short term, accelerating maintenance work if safety tests permit, or pursuing public-private partnerships that do not create exclusive, long-term rights for one organization. City staff said there has been maintenance activity on the field in recent years but that remediation may be needed to meet playground/recreation safety standards.

Why it matters: the issue pits neighborhood preservation and open public access against the operational needs of an organized youth club that serves many local children. Both sides said they want a solution that protects public access while ensuring the field is safe and durable for organized sports.

What’s next: commissioners asked staff to inspect the field for safety, coordinate with the incoming parks director and report back; they encouraged the club and neighborhood leaders to continue community meetings and directed staff to explore interim field options so the club’s season is not delayed. No resolution or binding agreement was approved at the meeting.