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53 °F Forecast | Road Cams Wednesday, April 27, 2005 Today's News | Shop Our Valley | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery | Contact Us SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Health Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classified Place an ad TOP JOBS EXTRA Ashland News NIE Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Moving here? eSouthernOregon CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend October 3, 2004 Backers go to bat for sports park measure By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune City Councilman James Kuntz says he is supporting a $10 million bond measure for a sports park because it makes economic sense for Medford. "I’m not a sports person, I don’t follow sports, I don’t have a favorite sports team ... I’m going to vote for it," said Kuntz. He said motels and restaurants fill up from Grants Pass to Yreka every time there’s a soccer tournament in town. "It’s going to bring a lot of money to the valley." If passed, the bond measure on the Nov. 2 ballot would help develop the sports park on Highway 99 between South Stage Road and Lowry Lane. Measure 15-59 asks Medford voters to authorize the sale of $10 million in bonds for capital projects within the 132- acre park. The property taxes for the 20-year bonds would be an estimated 20 cents per $1,000, or $30 per year for a home with an assessed value of $150,000. Advertisement Mike Dunn, Rogue Valley Soccer Club president, is also president of the Safe and Healthy Kids Political Action Committee, formed to promote the sports park bond as well as the city’s school sidewalk bond. He said the $10 million would pay for roads, curbs, parking and lighting throughout the sports park. "Basically it’ll finish the infrastructure," he said. "After that the different clubs are going to have to come in and put in money." He said clubs like soccer, softball, Little League and Pop Warner football all are on board with the Parks and Recreation Department for completing their fields. For example, the soccer club will need to come up with hundreds of thousands of dollars for the turf field as well as about $8,000 for four sets of goals, he said. He said the money would come from grants and fund raising within the club. "The only minor drawback is that this can’t happen fast enough," he said, estimating the park could be completed in two years if the bond passes. The sports park includes areas for a softball complex, baseball, soccer and flag football fields, open space, parking, a playground, picnicking, pavilions and concessions. "This is going to be a true multi-use facility," he said. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback Free Music Downloads Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers home equity loans helzberg Distance Education Diamonds Online Poker Slippers Student Loans Tatoo tcg student loan consolidation teleconferencing Website Design & Marketing Memory Foam Mattress w2 forms Tatoos Advertisement s