Letter: Soccer expansion is a worthy goal

Re: “Candidates should kick this around,” Mailbag, March 7. As concerned soccer parents we wholeheartedly agree with Rob Levy’s letter to the editor. For too long, Burbank soccer teams have been relegated to play and practice on school fields that are not as accessible as public parks. We need a soccer complex in this city, one with lights, lined fields and nets that can be used all year long.

We believe there are many soccer parents across Burbank who feel the same way we do.

Burbank AYSO has to cap its numbers for next fall season because of a lack of practice space and times.

Our two local soccer clubs, Burbank United and Burbank Red Machine, have trouble finding adequate space within the city for practices and games. All too often, families have to travel far outside the city for practices and even farther for games, even for “home” games.

In a mid-February edition of the Leader, the Burbank High girls varsity soccer coach correlated his teams’ lack of execution to the lack of adequate practice time and facilities.

The Parks and Recreation Department has a new poster listing “90 Ways to Play More.” Nineteen sports are listed, including bocce ball and ping-pong. There is no mention of soccer, the most popular sport in the world. It’s popular in Burbank too, but city leaders seem reluctant to acknowledge that fact.

If Burbank wants residents to “play more,” then it should be doing everything possible to facilitate that goal. Our children need a place to play the sport they love. They’ve been discouraged from playing it for too long in Burbank.

Joshua and Rita Lisa Sinkoski
Burbank