Soccer fields included in final phase for park
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

The love for soccer in Amherst is bigger than the space available to house it.

Mark Deyle, of the Amherst Soccer Association, said a study for the recreation master plan in Amherst found the average ratio for a soccer league should be 50 players for every field. In Amherst there are an estimated 250 players for each field.

But good news came for the ASA recently when the Amherst Town Board approved funding to complete the third, and final, phase of Paradise Park, which includes two soccer fields.

Deyle, a past president of ASA, said the main complex for the ASA has been at North French Road. The association also uses fields at Erie Community College's North Campus, when they are available.

"This gives us a secondary complex," he said, adding that this phase of the project will bring the total to three at Paradise Park.

It's also one of the most integrated parks in the town, with a playground, picnic shelter, basketball court and kickball field.

The first phase started in 1999, followed by the second in 2003.

Phase II included 84 additional parking spots in anticipation of the fields.

In addition to town funding of $139,000 for the third phase, Sen. Mary Lou Rath gave a $57,000 grant toward the project.

"Senator Rath has been very instrumental in providing funding," Deyle said.

Deyle said the needs for parks followed the population growth in East Amherst, where Paradise Park is located.

"There really aren't many parks in that section of town," he said.

Work was expected to begin in April, and completion will be affected by weather conditions and time needed to seed the fields.

Each year the ASA hosts a Memorial Day tournament with more than 180 teams competing. Deyle said each team is guaranteed four games, which requires a lot of field time.

"If (the fields) are grown in we might be able to use the fields next year, with any luck. We are anxious to get things going," he said, adding that the tournament is the capital fundraising event for the ASA.

This year's tournament is from May 26 to 28 and is running under the direction of Brian Lang, who has been tournament director, registrar, or Webmaster, for the past seven years.

e-mail: jfinch@beenews.com