BY SUSAN CLARK
With about 1,900 members, the Bedford Soccer League planns to bring more green fields into play.
The league has signed a purchase and sales agreement with Gulfstream Investments to purchase about 12 acres of land abutting the organization’s fields off Back River Road near Camp Allen.
The project calls for development of the land to supplement existing game fields at the site.
“The plan is to alleviate long-term pressure on town and school fields,” said Jay Joseph. Bedford Soccer’s operations director. “This will give us one big giant green space.”
The parcel, located on both sides of Camp Road, abuts Camp Allen and Camp Foster and is bisected by a PSNH power line easement. The league hopes to develop three fields on the site, but must first get recommendations from engineers, said Joseph.
Of the 12 acres, about five acres can be used for fields, with additional parking reserved along the easement. In addition to power lines, the site also contains ledge and steep inclines, but will serve the league’s needs, said John Vaillancourt, Bedford Soccer development coordinator.
“This is a terrific opportunity, through private development, to help alleviate field space concerns in the town of Bedford,” said Vaillancourt. “It’s a win-win. Bedford Soccer is seeking to establish more rectangular green space to support its growing soccer program, as well as supplement the already strained and over-utilized Bedford community fields.”
Bedford Soccer will finance the land’s purchase and development through community support, donations and a mortgage.
“Ideally, we would solely focus on soccer and not on land deals. It’s soccer that the kids enjoy and that’s why we volunteer to manage Bedford Soccer,” said Vaillancourt. “But, the reality of the situation is that kids need a place to practice and play the game. So, Bedford Soccer has crafted an effective solution to help both our soccer program and the town of Bedford.”
Gulfstream Investments has received conditional approval from the Planning Board to build a 10-lot residential development abutting the soccer league’s new land acquisition.
Bedford Soccer does not anticipate breaking ground on the new site until spring 2008.
“The relationship with the camps is nice,” said Vaillancourt. “As far as traffic flow, we’re not there in June and July so we’re not fighting over the road. And when we get going in the fall, the fields have some recovery time.”
The league is looking forward to a cooperative relationship with the town to obtain site approvals and properly manage the development process, he said.
In addition to its two existing fields off Back River Road, the league uses fields at Earl Legacy Park, Joppa Hill Road, Sportsman, McKelvie School, Greenfield Farm, Faith Christian School and at the Rising Stars Indoor Sports Center.
Bedford Soccer is a nonprofit educational organization. Its mission is to foster the physical, mental and emotional growth of youth at all ages and competition levels. The league’s goal is to instill in young players a lifelong passion for the sport.
The league provides two soccer programs for its approximate 1,900 players – a fall recreation program for Bedford kindergartners through high schoolers, and a year-round New Hampshire Classics competitive travel program for players under age 7 through U-18 for more advanced players. New Hampshire Classics includes the academy developmental program as well as competitive club and premier level teams.
For more information, visit www.bedfordnhsoccer.org.