In 2010, a girl by the name of Alex Rickli was riding her bike home when she was the victim of a fatal car accident that took her life. She was used to riding to practice on the windy roads that lead to our current practice field. The field that we still practice on to this day; a field which still isn't safe to play on. In the penalty box (where there is often collisions and falls), there are two or three large rocks coming out of the ground. Throughout the entire field, there are a ridiculous amount of holes that range from an inch, to half a foot deep.

She loved to play and was a very outgoing individual on and off the soccer field. A few years later, there were fields that supposed to be built and named after her; however, after thousands of dollars already spent, the project was abandoned due to dangerous substances and objects that were found in the soil. Traces of arsenic and a large amount of shattered glass was found on location. Rather than finding a location within the town (somewhere safe for players to walk or ride to), they dropped the idea completely and the fields were never made.

I barely knew Alex, but from the one time I did meet her, I can tell you that she deserves better. She would want the fields to be made and everybody in the town would love a place for players to go where they are safe to walk to. Parents should not be scared that their children are not safe especially when they are involved in an after-school activity.

With a few suggestions from community members, I have found two spots that a soccer field would be suitable for. Both of these spots are safe to walk tofrom the inner part of the town.The first location is the track beside Widmeyer Elementary School. This would be a cheaper alternative to building an entirely new location. For the most part, the field is level and needs only minor work. The grass has to be taken care of or a turf system needs to be implemented. The second option is North Berkeley Park located beside the old train station and the Board Office. The field is not big enough to play full games, but it is possible to put some goals in and give players a place to go to spend some free time. It is not a far walk and a short drive for student players. The field would have to be leveled and a new, higher fence would have to be implemented.

I'm trying to be practical with cost and work. All I am is asking of town is a little money and a little work to make one of these two locations a soccer field.

Both of these options will come with a cost, but I believe that they are a neccessary addition to the town. It would give players a place to practice and give students a place to go to. It would mean a lot to myself and the Berkeley Springs Soccer Program if you would please leave a signature to help raise awareness.