SLYSA Complex Update – June 2009

As most of you know, the fields at the complex were pretty much destroyed by flooding about this time last year. The levees surrounding the fields broke and flooded the fields for several weeks. Fields 6-18 were cool season fields and were completely destroyed because the grass could not survive that long under water. Fields 1 through 5 were primarily Bermuda grass fields and, surprisingly, a significant amount of the Bermuda grass survived. The concession trailer was completely destroyed (fyi…we took the top off and salvaged the bottom. We now have a trailer we can use to transfer multiple goal posts from one site to another). The irrigation system and electrical systems had to be reconnected. One of the pump houses was completely destroyed. The other pump house and the restrooms had to be gutted, cleaned and repaired. The swales (ditches) between the fields were filled with silt and needed to be graded out.

There are two levees which protect the SLYSA complex. One levee is the Elm Point Levee. The other levee is a “hip” levee and is a private levee on the SLYSA property. The Elm Point levee protects the SLYSA complex and all of the surrounding land from river flooding. The hip levee protects the SLYSA complex from flooding due to storm water runoff from St. Charles.

After the flood, we began to clean up and repair the facility. Initially, we hoped to be able to plant cool season grass in the fall so that we could have use of fields 6 through 18 in the following spring. If we had been able to plant seed in the mid to late fall, then that might have been a possibility. The hip levee belongs to SLYSA so we were able to get the hip levee fixed last fall. At the same time we removed a number of trees and shrubs to increase the strength of the hip levee. However, we did not have control of when the Elm Point levee was to be repaired. And we did not want to spend a lot of money on seed until the Elm Point levee was repaired. Later in the fall when it became clear that the Elm Point levee would not be repaired in time, we took a chance on fields 1-5 and overseeded them with rye grass hoping they might be available for the spring even though fields 6-18 would not be available.

The Elm Point levee was finally repaired in late February of 2009. After that we went to work fixing the complex.  In addition to repair, we also took the opportunity to do some improvements we otherwise would not have been able to do.

We applied 300 ton of sand on each of the Bermuda fields (fields 1-5). We then made multiple passes with a deep tine aerator over each of the fields so that the sand would become more a part of the soil structure. Doing this will reduce compaction issues allowing the grass to grow better and will improve drainage so that the fields will be playable quicker after rains.

We played several games on fields 1-5 this spring. We would have preferred to wait until fall, but didn’t have other options. We had valid complaints from some teams about the surface, because there was too much sand and too little grass. The ryegrass did not grow in as fast as we would have liked and did not have time to work the sand into the soil structure. However, the grass is already much stronger and we expect them to be in great shape by fall.

We converted fields 12 and 13 into one full sided field so that we can play either full sided games or small sided games on the field. We now call that field 12.5.

We converted field 7 into a full sided field so that we can play either full sided games or small sided games on field 7.

We put lights on field 7 so we now have 5 lighted full sided fields at the complex. The lights ($40K) were donated by an anonymous donor.

We modified the edges of fields 14 and 15 so they don't fall off so fast.

We replaced the irrigation on fields 6,7,8,11 and 12.5. The original irrigation on those fields was old and did not cover the fields very well.

We put 200 ton of sand on each of fields 6 through 18 and since the grass on all those fields was destroyed, we were able to till the sand into the soil to change the soil content.

Over the past few weeks, we planted Bermuda seed on fields 6 through 18. We are doing this so that we have a really good chance of being able to use all of the fields at the complex in the fall assuming the summer (hot) weather cooperates. Then in mid to late fall, we will add cool season grass to fields 6-18.

By the next spring season, we hope to have all the fields in better shape than they were before the flood and in a state which will allow us to use the fields more often than in the past resulting in fewer cancellations due to rain.

This past year has been a huge challenge and expense, but in the long run, the complex will be better than ever.

We could never have done this without the support and number of teams who stuck it out with us over the past season. Hopfeully, patience and persistence will be nicely rewarded by great fields to play on.

Welcome to SLYSA's website. In an effort to provide better communications with our players, coaches, and parents we have completely revamped our website. We hope the new site will be more interactive and will provide quicker information on schedules, game results, and other information important to coaches, players and parents. 

In addition to the new website, we have been working with gotsoccer.com to create an integrated scheduling and team information system.  Together with our new website you should see major changes and improvements in online team applications, better "E"-Mail communications, tournament rosters, and many more improvements.

We are excited about this new service. The service is available to all teams at no additional fee. It has taken a lot of time and effort to get to this point, but we think the future benefits will justify the time spent. In the future, we hope the system will provide simpler, faster communication, game scheduling, league and tournament applications and bracketing. We appreciate your continued patience and support.