Change Stamford Board of Education Field Allocation Policy

Totally against charging for use of fields for sports use. Sports not only unites children, but keeps them healthy and out of trouble. To charge the residents for the use of fields is ludicrous. Keeping children safe today, avoids long-term problems. Why would we want to change this???

We are all Stamford taxpayers already - our taxes pay for these schools. We aren't company softball leagues who may have non-residents on them....

City fields and parks should be designated for the citizens that reside there.

City fields and parks should be designated for the citizens that reside there.

Soccer was very important to my children growing up. We must allow Stamford teams to use the fields and keep them well maintained

The fields are for kids, not for profit organization.

I raced four sons in Stamford, who all played sports. They played football, baseball, soccer and wrestling. I believe sport businesses should not be allowed to rent school fields. Thank you

We pay enough taxes leave the field for the kid

Wow! I wonder who in the mayor's office, whose kids play for Chelsea Piers, wants to get on our city fields?

I played soccer in Stamford in the '70's and '80's when SYSL was in it's infancy. I have coached in the league for 10 years now, watching my own children and their friends grow into a sport that has found great traction in our City. The evolution of SYSL and the City's investment in our athletic facilities has been remarkable and offers a tremendous opportunity for ALL of Stamford's children to have an opportunity to learn the "world's game" and be a part of a team. Giving away our field and facility time at ANY cost, undermines the opportunities that our children have through non-profit organizations by reducing the availability of precious resources to only those families that can afford to pay the most for them. Our current U15 boys soccer team has 20 players. More than have are playing because SYSL and the parents who support the team and league financially underwrite them with scholarships and financial assistance. "Premier" and for profit soccer programs in the area seeking to use our fields will not do this for our children. Please keep our field exclusive to our City's non-profit sports programs and insure that ALL of our children will continue to have the resources they need for their athletic development and any level. -Seth Lapine

We want our kids to continue to play sports in our city. The Non Profit Organizations play a good role in our city by letting our kids play sports paying a minimum amount.

Below is the full text of a statement which I intended to submit to the Parks and Rec Committee of the Board of Representative. Only a portion was able to be presented due to time restrictions. Stamford Youth Soccer has been servicing the needs of youth soccer in Stamford for more than 40 years. Our programs are open to children from as young as 5 years of age to as old as 19. Over the past 5 years, we have averaged approximately 1,800 children in our programs. I understand that we are the largest youth sports organization in Stamford and one of the largest in the state. No child is denied the opportunity to play soccer in Stamford because of financial need. We offer both full and partial scholarships and have a college scholarship program. Presently, we offer a wide variety of programs from our elite premier teams to our recreational house soccer league for players of all ability. We also provide a number of free and heavily subsidized programming including: (1) Free Goalie Clinics; (2) Free Professional Skill Clinics for over 400 of our youngest players; (3) Middle School Soccer Program; and (4) An Inner City kids’ Summer Program. During the Fall and Spring, we have the privilege of using numerous fields throughout the City, both City and Board of Education fields. Approximately 40% of our games and more than 60% of our practices are conducted on grass fields throughout the City. Notably, as our needs change, Stamford Youth Soccer has relinquished permits issued by the City such as the one we previously had for Cummings Park. The privilege of using these fields is not something Stamford Youth Soccer nor any of the other not for profit youth sport organizations in Stamford takes for granted. We collectively recognize that without the generosity of the City and Board of Education in providing and maintaining these fields, the youth sport organizations would not be able to provide the programs that the children of Stamford are able to enjoy.

Keep our public fields for non-profit organizations!

It would be a huge loss to deny Stamford kids use of the fields that they have utilized so well and successfully for decades, just because some 'rich uncle' with greater resources came by. It would be a huge mistake and disservice to those who don't have the same means.

Respectfully, A Stamford kid trying hard to raise her own child in Stamford with the same memories and experiences I had, from the same parks and sports I grew up playing on and watching.

Non-profit sports (little league, soccer, etc) has been an integral part of children's introduction to sport. This also includes learning to play as a member of a team and developing lifelong friendships. Charging these organizations to use the towns ball fields is hot ksck of a better word, shameless. Hopefully common sense prevails and these organization will continue to provide such a valuable service to the community without pricing families out a such s wonderful tradition.

Non-profit sports (little league, soccer, etc) has been an integral part of children's introduction to sport. This also includes learning to play as a member of a team and developing lifelong friendships. Charging these organizations to use the towns ball fields is hot ksck of a better word, shameless. Hopefully common sense prevails and these organization will continue to provide such a valuable service to the community without pricing families out a such s wonderful tradition.

Please do not do this to our youth!

Since all non for profit organizations are in jeopardy, why doesn't the FOR Profit organizations build themselves new fields.

Please do not penalize non profits for doing wonderful things in our city.