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Hillsborough County Soccer Park Idea Is Back In Play

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By MIKE SALINERO

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 18, 2008

TAMPA - County Commissioner Jim Norman once dreamed of funding Hillsborough parks with money spent by soccer-mad parents and their youngsters at a $40 million complex near Plant City.

Norman's Championship Park failed to win support from commissioners or the public. But Tuesday, a majority of the commission signaled they would accept a smaller version of Norman's idea.

Four of seven commissioners gave tacit approval to building a $15 million soccer complex at a site yet to be determined. County parks director Mark Thornton said the complex, with at least 24 fields, would attract major soccer tournaments from across the nation.

The complex is part of a $47.6 million capital spending plan for the Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department presented to commissioners Tuesday. The plan also includes almost $20 million in improvements to parks and athletic fields.

Other projects recommended for funding are $3 million for the Glazer Children's Museum, $2.5 million for Veterans Memorial Park and $500,000 each for the YMCA and Lowry Park Zoo.

The commission will have a more detailed discussion of the projects July 16. A public hearing on the list will be held Aug. 6.

The $47.6 million comes from the community investment tax, a half-cent sales tax approved by voters in September 1996. The money can only be used for capital projects, not for operations and maintenance.

Thornton said money generated by the soccer complex would pay for operations there; if the complex makes money, those profits could also be used at other county parks. The project would also alleviate crowding at the county's 25 soccer fields.

About 450 organized teams play soccer at county fields. The parks department estimates another 15 to 16 fields are needed to get to a ratio of 12 teams per field.

The complex would get a boost from a new soccer stadium and professional soccer team that Thornton said are coming to Hillsborough County.

Norman said the new stadium would hold 6,000 to 7,000 people. He said a private group of investors wants to negotiate a "public-private partnership" to build the stadium. Neither he nor Thornton would give further details.

A professional franchise would raise interest in soccer in the area through partnerships and outreach programs for children, Thornton said. The excitement would raise the county's soccer profile, making the county's soccer complex a magnet for large amateur tournaments, Thornton said.

Commissioners, who are wrestling with cutting $87 million from next year's budget, welcomed Thornton's vision of generating money from park property. Commissioner Mark Sharpe said he has neighbors who "caravan weekly to soccer tournaments."

Yet Sharpe worried that in the current anti-tax atmosphere, members of the public could turn against the soccer complex as they did Championship Park. Norman's plan died under criticism it was too elaborate and expensive, particularly at a time the county was wrestling with budget cuts.

"I think you're doing a phenomenal job of taking something that's happening and turning it into something that can be a success for everybody," Sharpe said, "but we want to make sure we address the old problems."

Thornton said he wants to buy 200 to 300 acres for the soccer complex so it will not seem crowded. Visual appeal is important in attracting soccer families, he said. The only guidance from commissioners is that the property be accessible by a major highway.

Reporter Mike Salinero can be reached at (813) 259-8303 or msalinero@tampatrib.com.

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