West Vancouver field sport enthusiasts are on track to see their new Ambleside artificial turf field and changing room facilities complete by the end of March 2011.

Representatives of the local soccer and field hockey clubs unveiled the results of their latest fundraising efforts Oct. 4. The $270,000 cheque brings the total raised by the sporting groups to $740,000, just shy of half the $1.5 million they have committed to raise in support of the project.

Work on the renovations and turf began in June, with the help of $3-million worth of provincial and federal money and a $760,000 contribution from the District of West Vancouver. As with all federal stimulus-funded projects, the work has to be substantially complete by the end of next March.

"That old washroom building is going to get a well-needed gutting and renovation," said West Vancouver Soccer Club's James Askew. "It's about 3,600 square feet so it's actually a fairly large building. Most people just go into the washrooms and they don't see the rest of it, but there are changing rooms and storage behind there. No one uses them much because they are in disrepair. Our goal is to completely gut that and create four really nice change rooms with showers, two offices -- one for field hockey, one for soccer -- and public washrooms."

While the clubs are still working to clear their fundraising hurdle for this phase of work, some early thinking has begun about a second, more ambitious addition to Ambleside.

"That's where it gets really interesting in terms of what the benefits for the community will be," Askew said. "It won't just be change rooms and washrooms for people playing soccer and field hockey. It will getting more into an area people can come and congregate in and create a more community experience for people coming to Ambleside."

Askew envisions a second building being constructed alongside the current structure.

On the ground floor would be a cafeteria or concession catering to athletes and supporters at the sidelines. On the second floor, Askew continued, "possibly a lounge and maybe even a function space that could be rented out or a rooftop viewing platform with virtually 360-degree views looking at all the Ambleside fields and of course the ocean. So it's really an opportunity to create a premier sports complex."

Local field hockey and soccer aficionados will be pulling their fundraising boots back on next year to get the second phase under way. The planned second building will include a wall with contributors names displayed, and Askew said there will be an opportunity for a really generous sports fan to name the whole building.

"This is really creating an exciting long-term vision for Ambleside for sports users. I think that's going to be a terrific thing for the community.