Invest in our kids, community, vote ‘yes’ on Prop. 4

Kristofer Larson admits he’s not big on bond propositions. But the local chiropractor and athletic trainer has a different idea about a particular bond listed on Tuesday’s Mat-Su Borough general election ballot.

Proposition 4, if approved, would provide funding for the renovation of sports facilities at five Mat-Su high schools. Approval would lead to field turf at Colony, Palmer and Wasilla high schools; synthetic tracks at Colony, Houston, Palmer, Wasilla and Susitna Valley high schools; and a hockey rink, outdoor basketball court and warming facility at Su Valley High.

The total price tag is just more than $9 million. But that big total could lead to bigger rewards.

“Generally, I’m not a huge fan of bonds. They have to make sense,” said Larson, who, firsthand, has seen the need for these upgrades as the athletic trainer for the Colony High School football and soccer programs. “To me, this one makes perfect sense.”

Larson’s right. It does make perfect sense.

It’s a no-brainer.

The total cost is intimidating — $9.025 million. That’s a lot of cash. But let’s spend now, save later. A closer look at the proposition tells skeptics it’s not as bad as it seems. The state is picking up 70 percent of the tab. And if Alaska does not spend the money on this project, it will go somewhere else. Maybe on another roundabout we don’t need?

That leaves only 30 percent for the Mat-Su Borough taxpayers. According to information provided by the Mat-Su School District, borough property owners would be taxed an average of $6 to fund this project. That’s $3.05 per $100,000 of assessed property value.

Not too shabby.

I think we all can spare 6 bucks to invest in our children and community, right?

Folks with immediate connections to youth and high school sports are rallying support.

“I want to see us invest in our kids,” said Jackie Kenshalo, a mother of two and member of the Palmer High School soccer booster club.

But it’s more than just the parents and booster club members who should have a vested interest. We all benefit if Prop. 4 is passed.

With outdoor field turf at three area high schools and synthetic tracks and five schools, the door opens to host regional and state high school sporting events. This would bring folks from outside the borough to our community and local business benefit.

Restaurants, gas stations, hotels and retail stores would all see the economic impact of these events.

The approval of Proposition 4 also relieves a burden currently placed on many of our residents.

Face it folks, we have sub-par facilities at our local high schools. While Anchorage and Eagle River residents have at least seven turf fields at their disposal, there is not one outdoor turf field in the Valley.

It’s all grass out here, and most of our fields are pretty beat up. It’s a safety hazard. There are many, many people who do their best to maintain these fields, but they’re fighting a losing battle. For the most part, it’s a volunteer effort. Many of these folks are spending their own money and donating their spare time to try to ensure these fields are at least somewhat playable, and ready for local soccer and football programs to use.

Clay Dahl, the president of the Colony High School booster club, estimates hundreds of man-hours and thousands of dollars are needed each year just to make sure the Colony Knights can make it through a few months of football and even less time for soccer.

Dahl said each year it requires more to maintain their beat-up grass field and he feels like they’re going backward.

Wasilla High School relies on a loyal volunteer, Ron Rucker, to maintain its field. Rucker waters, mows, aerates and fertilizes Veterans Memorial Filed in his spare time.

Palmer High has its own volunteers. Coaches on the football staff are often found taking care of Machetanz Field.

But there’s a cool thing about field turf. You don’t have to mow it. You don’t have to water it. You don’t need to fertilize it.

Dahl estimates the Colony booster club spends about $800 per year to paint the yard lines and hash marks on the field. Another cool thing about field turf is there’s no re-painting every week.

The instillation of the field turf would also include a drainage system.

Local fields are already plagued with uneven surface. Add rain, something else that plagues the Valley in the fall, and you have a mess.

“There are not the changes in surface when it rains. It takes the variable right out of it,” Larson said.

Most of all, the approval of Proposition 4 creates opportunity for many different user groups. Currently, usage of these fields is measured in hours, but it could be measured in weeks.

Folks may think this is just a football vote. But many more groups benefit.

Yes, the local football players would have less risk for injury and have opportunity to play later into the season in their own community. But there’s more.

Soccer, track and youth programs would also see big dividends. Currently, the high school soccer season is — sorry to say — kind of a joke. Local prep programs may only have two or three home matches. It’s ridiculous.

The players are charged the same activity fee regardless of whether Mother Nature cooperates. There’s no discount if spring snowstorms keep them off the grass until May. With turf, soccer programs could begin play earlier in the spring.

Installation of the synthetic tracks completely changes things for local track programs. Currently, Palmer High is the only local school that can hold a sanctioned meet.

With approval, turf and synthetic tracks would be installed at the high schools. But that doesn’t mean the high school programs would be the only teams to benefit.

Currently, thanks to the condition of the fields, there’s basically no chance for other groups to use the fields at Colony, Palmer or Wasilla high schools.

The folks at those schools are doing whatever they can to reduce the wear and tear. I’m sure they don’t want to put up the stoplight at every request, but they’re basically putting a band-aid on a gunshot wound. They are doing whatever they can to prevent a problem from getting worse.

With turf, the door opens for youth and adult soccer and football programs. There’s ample opportunity for all to benefit.

I actually do have one problem with Prop 4. Houston High should have been included to receive turf. Hopefully this will pass and Houston High will get what it deserves next year.

And this needs to pass. Our children deserve it. Our community deserves it. I urge you to vote yes on Proposition 4.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.