On Dec. 12, looking across the soccer fields the YMCA is building north of 34th Avenue.
Now and then the bike takes me along 34th Avenue, where for the past year or so construction has been progressing on the ambitious sports complex being built by the Mid Willamette Family YMCA.
The main thing you can see from 34th is the soccer fields, where on Monday it looked as though the installation of artificial turf was close to being complete.
The appoved site plan for the two fields bordering 34th shows them aligned side-by-side, north to south, with the two southern goals right along the sidewalk.
I had been wondering whether high-flying shots on goal would end up in the street. But no worries. The site plan shows, besides a conventional 6-foot chainlink fence, a safety net 40 feet tall. That should catch even the wildest shots over the goal.
The Albany Y’s sports complex at the corner of 34th Avenue and Pacific Boulevard has been in in the making for a long time. The project also includes a playground and the renovation of a former warehouse as an indoors fitness and sports facility.
According to the Y’s website, the first two lighted fields should be complete this month. Two additional fields to the north are expected to be complete by the end of 2023.
You can see the full outline of this venture on the Y’s website here. The overall cost is estimated to be around $9 million, and so far about $4 million has been raised, according to the website.
The sports complex is rising on former industrial and commercial property that had been vacant and unused, looking abandoned, for many years. With tournaments, games and related activities, those playing fields will bring that acreage back to life. (hh)
Installing the artificial turf: Workers in a field of green.
This apparent lane is puzzling, running right across the middle of both fields.
Looks SO MUCH better than a bunch of houses or apartments!
At least until the tents go up on the fields…
Thank you for the update Hasso. I was wondering about soccer balls going into the street and you answered my question.
i’ll be so glad when the kids can paly soccer there and leave our clean, quiet neighborhood behind LBCC alone again! hopefully the Y will be more diligent about having them clean up after themselves!