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Brandon Valrico Rams Could Start Season At New Field

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By LAURA FRAZIER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 25, 2009

VALRICO - By the time the 2009 season kicks off in the fall, the Brandon Valrico Rams should be ready to block, sack and tackle on a new home field.

John Brill, Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department spokesman, said the county plans to complete the construction of a football field next to the Valrico Recreation Center by mid-July. The Rams youth football and cheerleading organization currently practices at the Brandon Recreation Center on Sadie Street and plays home games at Brandon High School.

The county presented its plans for the project to a small group of neighbors and league members recently at the Valrico Recreation Center, 707 S. Miller Road.

Besides the new field, the $250,000 project - budgeted through the county's Capital Improvement Program - includes installation of lights and an irrigation system, and expansion of the parking lot.

Brill said other amenities will be added later, such as bleachers, restrooms and concession and storage areas.

Money for the project was approved last summer by the Hillsborough County Commission. The board reallocated $40 million previously budgeted for a nixed sports complex in Plant City to pay for the football field and dozens of miscellaneous neighborhood improvements throughout the county.

The county initially planned to build a soccer field and football field near the Valrico Recreation Center, but Brill said officials decided to scale back the plans for the sake of the neighborhood.

"After looking at the plan more and the growth in the surrounding neighborhood, we want to limit it to one field," Brill said. "We don't want to impact the neighborhood park too much, and it's a little too intense to put a soccer field in there."

The lighted football field, Brill said, will be as far away as possible from residential areas and close to the recreation center and Miller Road.

The park has a recreation center, playground, basketball court, walking trail and a limited parking area.

For information, call (813) 272-5275.

Reporter Laura Frazier can be reached at (813) 657-4523.

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