West Island: St. Lazare to get new synthetic sports field

St. Lazare Mayor Pierre Kary and MNA Lucie Charlebois show their Stallion jerseys after announcing plans for new field.

St. Lazare will be rolling out a green carpet for its soccer and football players next year.

The town announced Thursday that, thanks to a Quebec government subsidy covering half of the estimated $1. 7-million cost, a synthetic sports field will be installed in Westwood Park, just behind the Westwood Junior High School.

This will extend the sport season and allow youngsters to enjoy their sports on a safer playing surface, Mayor Pierre Kary said, adding that the synthetic field will be installed in time for the 2013 playing season.

A couple of young football players, members of the St. Lazare Stallions, who were present for the announcement, said they were looking forward to playing on artificial turf.

I like the feel of a natural field but it gets so muddy so often that we cant play, said Kevin Turcsik, 12.

His friend, 13-year-old Emile Guilbeault, agreed. This will extend our playing season, he said.

Indeed, Soulanges MNA Lucie Charlebois said that synthetic turf will allow for an early April-to-first-snow season.

And an end to the mud, she said, noting that the synthetic turf will be used by more than 2,200 kids who play in the football league or in the recently renamed St. Lazare/Hudson Soccer Club.

Lucie Tremblay, president of the St. Lazare/Hudson Soccer Club, welcomed the prospect of a synthetic field.

Here is the original post:
West Island: St. Lazare to get new synthetic sports field