MCCRACKEN COUNTY, Ky. — Questions about the future of the McCracken County Youth Soccer Association could be answered following a meeting held Friday night. The MCYSA held a community meeting to address options moving forward, after the league had asked for clarification on whether the partnership with the county will continue.
The MCYSA held a community meeting to address options moving forward after the league had asked for clarification on whether the partnership with the county will continue.
Mackenzie Lionberger
Speculation and worries about the future grew after the league had not received a response from the county about their partnership. The board originally sent a letter to the McCracken County Fiscal Court about the partnership, but said they had not responded. The board later posted online about organizer’s concerns for the leagues future.
The original partnership grants MCYSA volunteers to mow and maintain the soccer complex in exchange for priority use of the fields from the county.
An email was sent to parents, coaches, and volunteers from the board reading:
“As things stand now, most of the McCracken County Soccer Complex will be closed by the County, the MCYSA will likely cease to exist, and we believe the Sports Park will instead be offering a similar recreational youth soccer program, starting this fall.”
McCracken County Judge Executive Craig Clymer released a statement on the day of discussion regarding the matter. “If we need to keep open all of the current fields at the landfill in addition to access to the sports park, we can do that.”
The concern from the MCYSA board also follows a proposed recreational program from the Paducah Sports Park. The program would limit games and practice to Monday through Thursday, as well as try to match registration fees for the first year. Jennifer Davis, mother of two children in the league, said the change would complicate families’ schedules.
“For us, Monday through Thursday, we have church, we have Boy Scouts, we have like other things going on,” she said. “Saturdays, we really enjoyed the games being on Saturdays because it was like a family day.”
The board discussion allowed parents to express their concerns, many of which related to the scheduling. Others said they simply want to continue having that space for their children. Angel Barnett, who has three children playing in the league, said as the county grows, there should be more room for children’s sports.
“We’re out here trying to make sure that we have enough space for everyone to play at any time they want to,” Barnett said. “I want to see soccer continue to grow, and given the spaces here, given spaces at the park, we have more availability for everyone to be able to play.”
After the discussion concluded, Barnett said she’s hopeful county leaders who were in attendance heard the concerns from parents. One of those leaders present, McCracken County Commissioner Richard Abraham, said he personally believes the fields should be able to be used. He said the children should have the ability to also use the Paducah Sports Complex.
“These guys want to work out here and practice out here and play out here, fine,” Abraham said. “You still have access to the 60 million dollar facility that your tax dollars went to to build.”
The soccer complex has experienced different structural issues, making it difficult to expand or reconstruct. The original complex was built on top of a landfill, leading to fields sinking and developing holes. Eddie Jones, County Commissioner, said the county is not permitted to run water or sewer lines due to the environmental restrictions on the landfill cap.
“We started this because we had inadequate fields,” he said. “800 kids gathering on top of a landfill with cars moving in and out of a parking lot that we could not keep level because it was on the cap of this landfill that kept sinking, so we have dramatically improved the facilities.”
Given its history, Jones said he still understands parents wanting to use the older complex, and that he understands the scheduling concerns. While there is not yet an official date for a discussion from the fiscal court, he said there will be talks of solutions.
“I feel like all of this will get worked out, and in the end, we’re going to have great soccer programs in McCracken County,” he said.
MCYSA said they will open registration for the Fall season on July 25 at midnight.