There have been multiple threads in which the Lexington field policy has been discussed or questioned. Here's an article concerning the policy:
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/5861151.htmPosted on Thu, May. 15, 2003
Only local teams will be allowed to use soccer fields
By JOEY HOLLEMAN
Staff Writer
With the opening in the past year of new soccer facilities in Lexington and West Columbia, Lexington County has become a magnet for soccer teams.
But that can create problems when leagues, or individual teams, from outside the Lexington County Recreation and Aging Commission's tax district want to play on the fields. So the commission is working on a policy to give local teams priority on the facilities at Pine Grove and Gibson Road.
Under the policy recommended to the commission at its monthly meeting May 7, the agency will work with the Lexington County United Soccer Association to schedule use of the fields. The soccer association is made up of the leagues currently using county fields - Batesburg-Leesville Youth Sports, Pineview/Pine Grove Soccer Club, Lexington Soccer Club, Lexington County Girls Soccer Association, Lexington Recreation Soccer Club and Swansea Soccer Club.
No currently intact teams from outside those organizations would be allowed to practice or play games on the fields. That means Classic level teams from the Irmo or Columbia areas won't be allowed to use the fields.
Jay Criscione, executive director of the recreation commission, said the only exceptions would be areas bordering the county that don't have leagues of their own within 25 miles of their homes. He doesn't want children from lower Saluda County or northern Calhoun County to be shut out.
In another case where popularity of a program is creating problems, the commission discussed a new policy for the senior exercise class at Tri-City Leisure Center. Limited to 75 people, the free Seniorcize class often is packed, and those who arrive late are shut out.
Criscione said he originally planned to solve the problem by charging $20 a month for the class, but protests from seniors forced him to look for another solution.
Now he's planning to offer a separate class for the seniors who participate in the congregate meal program at the center. That class, limited to 25 people, should reduce the demand on the larger Seniorcize class.
Also, the Seniorcize class will be limited to 60 people, with registration once each quarter. The registration process should eliminate Richland County residents who take advantage of the free class instead of paying for similar classes at the Capital Senior Center in Columbia, Criscione said.
Both the soccer and senior exercise policies are proposals that haven't been finalized.
In other action at the May 7 meeting, commissioners expressed concern about a proposal by the town of Lexington to build an outdoor skateboard park on recreation commission land and then turn it over to the commission to operate. They would rather either give the town a long-term lease to the land and let the town run the facility or ask the town to build an enclosed facility where access could be more easily controlled.
Criscione also updated the commission on plans for improvements at Gaston Park. Local officials have requested tennis courts, a modern kitchen, restrooms and new playground equipment for the park. Criscione said the agency can't afford the tennis courts or kitchen, but it plans to spend nearly $40,000 on new restrooms and will apply for a state grant for the playground equipment.