With the 2012 outdoor soccer season upon us, we have the dedicated efforts of two of our member organizations to thank for a flawless pitch. The City of Toronto’s Withrow Park, host to a variety of summer markets and recreational activities, is home to the city’s women’s and co-ed queer soccer leagues. But Pink Turf Soccer (PTS) and Downtown Soccer Toronto (DST) have shared more than just the pitch – the leagues have also shared concerns about the deteriorating field conditions and the riskof injury their players face as a result.
At the end of the 2010 season, DST approached the city to discuss possible renovations to the field. After hearing that there was no allowance in the city’s budget for the repairs, DST rallied its players and PTS did the same. In an agreement with the city to make the necessary field improvements together, the leagues each raised $5000 to contribute to the cost of the renovations. The city put forth the remaining funds and started arranging the repairs.Â
In October 2011, the pitch was levelled with a layer of topsoil and re-vamped with fresh sod. The field was fenced off for the winter and as the snow melted this spring, a brand new Withrow Park soccer field was revealed!
