Soccer, baseball and other typically spring- and summertime sports are usually put away during long Alaska winters. But come this fall, people in the Homer area will have a new place to play.
The Soccer Association of Homer is realizing its dream to build an indoor athletic field. The goal of the South Peninsula Athletic and Recreation Center, or SPARC, is providing healthy activity for the community, year-round.
“It’s something that’s desperately needed for our youth and for our seniors in Homer, especially as the climate changes. SPARC is going to support youth soccer, basketball, baseball, pickleball. There’ll be a walking track for seniors and we’ll have play space for toddlers and their parents to run around. There’s nothing like this in Homer and we really need it,” said Daniel Zatz, with the soccer association.
The facility will be 75 feet wide by 159 feet long, built on a no-longer-used athletic field next to Homer Middle School. The project has developed through a public, private and nonprofit partnership. Zatz says the organization has so far raised $130,000 for construction, the city of Homer has pledged $189,000 and Kachemak City donated $20,000. The Kenai Peninsula Borough School Board passed a resolution of support of the project. And the borough assembly at its meeting Tuesday agreed to lease the 3.5 acres for $1 per year for 20 years with an optional 10-year renewal.
Assembly Member Willy Dunne, representing the southern peninsula, praised the collaboration.
“It’s really great to see a public, private collaboration, and collaboration with city of Homer and private individuals and nonprofit group and the borough to make that all come together at very little cost to government,” Dunne said.
Zatz says the operational budget is figured at about $20 per hour, and sees usage fees at around $3 per person. Construction is slated to begin in August, with the facility opening as soon as September.