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Indoor facility fundraising off and running
Fundraising for the Kootenay East Youth Soccer Association (KEYSA) Indoor Sports Facility was officially kicked off this past week.
The group is fundraising to construct an indoor air-supported dome sports facility in Cranbrook (with artificial turf) that would allow for year-round use for āsummerā sports such as soccer, baseball, lacrosse, track and field and more.
The total project is estimated at a value of $1.7 million, excluding land.
However, $1.2 million would be enough to see construction begin, said project fundraising committee chair Mike Robinson.
A target of $500,000 has been set for fundraising from local businesses and individuals. Already in the first week of fundraising KEYSA has closed in on 10% of its target, receiving nearly $50,000, he told e-KNOW.
In early 2017, KEYSA conducted a donor drive to assess community support and obtained over $120,000 in financial and in-kind support in just five days.
Funds to cover capital expenses associated with construction of the facility will be raised through a combination of donations, grants, and in-kind contributions.
KEYSA has set a target to obtain approximately $500,000 in grants. This leaves the remaining $900,000 as the goal from donations and in-kind contributions. Donors will be recognized on a list of donors displayed within the facility, on the KEYSA website, and in local newspapers.
The current concept is a partnership between KEYSA and the City of Cranbrook.
The project is currently in the initial planning phase, Robinson said, noting KEYSA has submitted a letter to Mayor and council with specific requests, including the request for the city to provide a suitable location on which to construct the facility. A budget to construct the facility has also been completed in this phase. Under the current building concept the total construction cost is estimated at approximately $1.7 million, excluding land.
After construction, KEYSA would assume responsibility for operations, with operation and maintenance covered by user fees. Administration of user groups and scheduling will also be provided by KEYSA.
The facility will benefit multiple user groups and allow for year-round use, promoting a healthy life style in our community. It will provide a suitable surface conducive to field-based activities, KEYSA outlined in a media release.
āOnce constructed, the facility will provide over 2,400 m2Ā of indoor, heated floor space on artificial turf. This will allow for year-round soccer, baseball, and track practices to occur, just to name a few uses. It is also expected that such a facility will be used in the day by school groups and seniors health programs. The community can expect many spin-off benefits, too, as this facility attracts people to the region through year-round tournaments, coach/player training camps, and even special events such as trade shows,ā Robinson outlined.
To assist in funding, KEYSA has acquired the services of the Cranbrook and District Community Foundation (CDCF) to be the single organization that will accept all financial donations and hold them until such a time that construction can proceed. The CDCF will issue charitable receipts for these donations.
The fundraising drive will continue through the rest of this year and into 2018, Robinson said.
Lead image: KEYSA provided an example of what the inside of the proposed facility would look like.
Ian Cobb/e-KNOW
