New Aurora pitch brings respect to soccer: ex-TFC player Jimmy Brennan
Aurora to build multi-purpose field for soccer, rugby and football at Sheppard's Bush and new soccer field at Stewart Burnett Park

YorkRegion.com
March 14, 2017
Amanda Persico

Aurora is doing a soccer switcheroo.

The existing soccer pitch at Sheppard’s Bush is to be converted into a multi-purpose sports field.

And the multi-sports field planned for Stewart Burnett Park, located behind the Stronach Aurora Recreation Complex (SARC), will now be home to a new full-fledged soccer field.

The new soccer field at Stewart Burnett is expected to be completed in the fall and the new multi-purpose field at Sheppard’s Bush completed in 2018, pending approval from the Ontario Heritage Trust.

The town voted to switch the fields after Aurora Football Club, formerly Aurora Youth Soccer Club, requested the town build a change room at Sheppard’s Bush.

It made more sense – and costs less – to switch the fields and have soccer players use the change room facilities at the SARC.

Change rooms and shower facilities have been overlooked, said Jimmy Brennan, former Toronto FC captain and executive director of Aurora FC.

“Hockey players get off the ice and shower,” he said. “Imagine playing for 90 minutes in the heat, sweating like a mad person then getting in your car.”

Playing at Stewart Burnett Park brings soccer, baseball, hockey, tennis, swimming and the Aurora Sports Hall of Fame under one umbrella.

“Let’s look the part and bring respect back to the game,” Brennan said. “And it starts with our facilities.”

The new fields will cost the town more than $3.1 million – $1.2 million for the multi-sports field at Sheppard’s Bush and about $1.9 million for the new soccer pitch at Stewart Burnett Park.

The costs include new artificial turf, lines, lights, and bleachers.

The new multi-purpose field at Sheppard's Bush will have proper end zone space and colour-coded lines to mark the space for soccer, football and rugby.

Temporary markers can be used for field hockey, which can be accommodated later if the sport gains in popularity.

“It will be a busy field,” said Aurora’s park manager, Jim Tree. “But it will work.”

Currently, the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority, which manages Sheppard’s Bush, is reaching out to Sheppard’s Bush users, looking for ideas on how improve conservation efforts and recreation opportunities.

According to the LSRCA, there are no plans to expand the footprint of soccer fields, meaning no trees will be cut down to accommodate more field space.

With the new design, taking down trees is not necessary, Tree said.

“We’re not looking for a larger footprint,” he said. “We are looking to reconfigure the fields. No trees will be cut.”

Instead, the new design will use the existing artificial pitch along with the soccer pitch directly to the north, taking that field out of commission.

Since a new pitch will be constructed at Stewart Burnett Park, losing one pitch at Sheppard’s Bush won’t impact play, Tree said.

The town is also exploring recycling companies for the old turf as well as reusing patches that are less worn on heavily used areas on soccer pitches, such as in the goal area, Tree said.