‘Just heartbroken for the kids in our community’

On any night of the week during the St. Andrews Soccer Association’s season, looking out at the 10 fields next to the St. Andrews Airport, you’ll see hundreds of kids along with parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles watching as various games and practices take place in the community north of Winnipeg.

But by 2027, the soccer, flag football and ultimate (frisbee) recreational programs, which take place on the fields, could be replaced by runways and hangars as airport expansion threatens to take over the space.

Adam Praznik, the association’s director since 2021, says they’ve been dealing with issues around keeping the fields since he took on the role.

“The situation with the airport is they need more revenue to develop and fix their runways, so they’ve been developing land like crazy all around us for the last number of years,” said Praznik. “So we’ve known for a long time this was coming.”

On March 6, the organization was informed by letter that, after 2026, St. Andrews soccer would not be allowed to lease the public fields any longer.

This season, 400 kids between the ages of two and 15 played on the fields across 34 teams with the St. Andrews Soccer Association, a volunteer-run, non-profit organization that has provided recreational programming in St. Andrews since the 1970s.

The expansion decision came from the airport board that manages the airport, but the facility is fully owned and operated by the Rural Municipality of St. Andrews.

“I’m just a mix of emotions,” said Praznik. “Just like heartbroken for the kids in our community. Just mind blowing that the RM could be… just so out of touch with the community that they think taking away kids soccer to put up a few hangers is their priority, and, to me, I’m such a community orientated person, I can’t imagine ever doing that, so I just don’t understand their logic.”

The St. Andrews Soccer Association will be able to play in the 2026 season, but what happens after that remains uncertain.

“At this point, with no soccer program, there’s some kids that might end up having to go to other communities,” said Praznik. “It’s not always feasible for parents to drive to other communities. So there might end up a lot of kids sitting at home watching screens rather than playing with their friends at the park.”

In a presentation to the RM council, Praznik outlined several options aimed at saving the community program.

“People are outraged at this decision, and we have the backing of the other municipal rec organizations who have long been fighting for what we have as well. Even the fire department is lined up behind us.”–Adam Praznik

The first option is to build a new park at Liss Road, which would require the airport to extend its lease until the new fields are ready.

The second option proposes building a new road at the airport toward Parkdale Road to unlock more developable land and increase airport revenue. However, Praznik notes this isn’t ideal, as it would make the airport the soccer program’s permanent home.

The third option involves purchasing central farmland within the RM using a $5 million Ducks Unlimited grant to build a multi-use site, provided the airport agrees to extend the lease until completion.

The final option is to take more time to consider all options and direct the airport board to extend the lease in the meantime.

“People are outraged at this decision, and we have the backing of the other municipal rec organizations who have long been fighting for what we have as well,” said Praznik. “Even the fire department is lined up behind us.”

Over 400 people have signed a petition to help keep community soccer available in St. Andrews, as Praznik hopes a solution can be found soon.

“We just need certainty going forward,” said Praznik. “So we need the RM to take action so that we don’t end up homeless in 2027 without a community program.”

zoe.pierce@freepress.mb.ca