Amelia Island Youth Soccer warns of February deadline; city to convene January town hall on field options

Toby Muntz, recreational director for Amelia Island Youth Soccer, told the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee on Dec. 9 that the organization faces a potential loss of its home playing fields by next August and needs a site plan by the end of February to preserve its spring and fall seasons. “We can't afford to cripple such a strong and growing program,” Muntz said during public comment.

Muntz asked the city to investigate purchasing nearby parcels (including Ybor Alvarez fields) and to determine whether impact fees could be used to finance acquisition and development. He said the association serves about 1,400 children and estimated roughly two‑thirds of registrants live in ZIP code 32034, though he cautioned the registration addresses are not always updated.

Parks Director Scott Michaelson said staff will produce a “probable cost” estimate in January for building additional fields at the ULE Sports Complex and will organize a town hall with stakeholders in early to mid January to review options, tradeoffs and potential stopgap measures. “We will have that number in January,” Michaelson said, and recommended including the Tree Conservancy and county parks staff at the meeting.

Committee members pressed for alternatives to converting municipal golf land into soccer fields. One member said Fernandina Beach Golf Course is the only municipal course in Nassau County and cautioned that “if you destroy a golf course, it will never come back.” Others argued the city has limited property and must consider hard tradeoffs if long‑term leased or airport land becomes unavailable.

Speakers discussed several site constraints. Staff noted a 36‑acre wooded parcel north of the golf course is zoned recreation but may contain wetlands and aviation safety restrictions; one committee member cited an estimate that acquiring certain parcels could cost roughly $3.5 million and building fields might add another $2.5 million, figures presented as local estimates and not final. The airport’s representatives previously warned that redevelopment on some parcels could require environmental cleanup.

As interim options, staff and members discussed using existing lit fields at Ybor Alvarez, positioning fields around current lights, repurposing softball fields temporarily, or using Hickory Street Park for practice if lighting and netting are installed. Michaelson said staff will invite a county parks representative to the town hall and will seek a clear response on impact‑fee eligibility so the community can weigh financing possibilities.

Next steps: Parks staff will compile a list of stakeholders, secure a probable‑cost estimate for the preferred sites in January, and hold a town‑hall meeting early to mid January. No formal acquisition or ordinance change was approved at the meeting.