Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Dirt bikes, ATVs tearing up sports field
City to again repair fence at Varsity View complex
Steve Kazubek says all-terrain vehicles like the one at left being driven across the soccer pitches on Friday are tearing up the fields and making them dangerous for players. (JOE.BRYKSA@FREEPRESS.MB.CA)
A person drives a quad through soccer pitches at Varsity View Sportsplex in Charleswood Friday afternoon.
After two months of calling the City of Winnipeg to complain about dirt bike and ATV riders ripping up the baseball and soccer fields at Charleswood's Varsity View Community Centre's sportsplex, Steve Kazubek is holding his breath for Tuesday.
That's the day city crews have promised to repair some damaged fencing that has given riders access to four baseball diamonds and two soccer pitches.
"They're tearing up the grass and leaving trails in the baseball outfields. Kids could get hurt running for a fly ball because they could turn an ankle in a divot," said Kazubek, Varsity View's operations and maintenance supervisor.
He said he has lost track of the number of times this summer he has meticulously prepared a baseball diamond, including their all-gravel infields, for games that evening only to have a coach call him the next morning to complain about the widespread tire tracks.
He said he has tried to deal with the two-, three- and four-wheel crew only to be met with a chorus of middle fingers.
While the noise and damage has been annoying enough during the summer, the problem could become more acute next week when the pitches are scheduled to begin hosting youth soccer playoff games.
Complaints about damaged fencing or anything else on city property should be directed to 311, said city spokeswoman Tammy Melesko.
"The city has received reports in the past about this particular fence and has repaired the fence when notified there is a problem, either by a resident or staff at the facility.
As the city has now just learned the fence is cut again, a crew will be going out to assess the damage and make plans to have the fence repaired," she said.
To compound the problem even further, Kazubek said far too many residents use the sports fields to walk their dogs -- and fail to clean up after them -- even though there's a designated dog park just a few minutes away.
geoff.kirbyson@freepress.mb.ca
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 4, 2010 A5
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