Dear Editor:
As co-ordinator of athletics for 13 of the public and independent high schools on the North Shore, I see first-hand the problems our schools have in accommodating their various outdoor sports teams. During the fall and spring seasons, many of our schools field between seven and 10 teams that need to access grass (or turf) fields. Considering the vast majority of our high schools have access to one grass or turf field, it is not possible to accommodate all these teams for practices and games at their own school.
The NSSSAA is extremely fortunate to have access to some North Vancouver and West Vancouver parks in order to run our leagues. Without access to these fields, the participation rate of high school athletes and the variety of sports available would decrease by at least one-half, if not two-thirds. And for this, we are extremely grateful.
With that being said, our athletes and leagues still suffer from the fact that our current supply of fields, access to trails for mountain biking, and deteriorating/inadequate track and field facilities cannot meet our athletes' needs. Moreover, as a member of the NorthVancouver Sport Council, I know that the same concerns the NSSSAA faces are similar to the concerns faced by many (if not all) of the sport-user groups across the North Shore.
The North Shore needs more fields. The North Shore needs more athletic facilities. Our local leaders like to jump on the "Go Green" bandwagon, but what is being done toensure that the residents of the North Shore have more access to enjoy active lifestyles and participate outdoors? When you look at (what is left of) the North Shore mountains from the other side of the water, you can see a lot of development; unfortunately, none of it appears to be very green.
Gerry Karvelis
Co-ordinator of Athletics North Vancouver
