With the support of state Rep. Alec Ryncavage, R-119, the Mountain Top Youth Soccer Association (MYSA) is planning a nearly $300,000 improvement project at the association’s 52-acre soccer complex in Wright Twp.
Ryncavage, who attended opening day of the MYSA fall soccer program on Aug. 22, met with board members last fall to discuss their vision for improvements to the property to create a premier regional destination for youth soccer.
As a result of that meeting, MYSA developed a master plan for multi-phase improvements to the complex. As part of the first phase, MYSA is seeking a $250,000 grant through the state Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program (GTRP) and has committed approximately $44,000 in matching funds.
“This is a complex unlike any other in northeast Pennsylvania, not just here in Mountain Top but as a region as a whole,” Ryncavage said of the soccer complex. “To think nearly 60 acres and five soccer fields with irrigation and a clubhouse. This is just an asset that we cannot let crumble. In a day and age when Little Leagues are going away and mini footballs are going away; we have something great here in Mountain Top and we need to continue to invest in it.”
The MYSA soccer complex is a five-field complex that provides recreational soccer opportunities to more than 600 local children. The organization seeks to grow its recreational programs and ability to host regional tournaments. The proposed improvements include paving, ADA accessibility improvements, irrigation and eventually field lighting.
Joe Zampetti, MYSA board member and coordinator for special events and opening day, described the importance of the planned improvements. “For the future of soccer in this community and what we’ve built in this complex, it will be massively important to expand and keep up with this massive place that we all care deeply for,” Zampetti offered. He said the group hopes to continue pavement of the entrance road which currently is about halfway finished, he explained. They also hope to pave the parking lot and provide some handicap-accessible parking, Zampetti related.
Ryncavage pointed out that the emphasized that the $44,000 local commitment represents a significant investment by the volunteer-run organization and clears a major hurdle that often prevents smaller community athletic organizations from pursuing large-scale capital projects.
He also described a problem often faced by volunteer-run youth organizations that MYSA has recognized and is addressing. “As you are dealing with youth organizations, obviously the children eventually age out. As the children age out, so do the parents,” the legislator offered. “And so do the board members.”
“And so,” Ryncavage explained, “the problems that large associations like Mountain Top Youth Soccer often face are that knowledge and that initiative, they don’t always get passed down from one group of board members to the next and that sometimes can create a problem.”
Ryncavage commended the leaders of MYSA for recognizing this potential stumbling block and addressing it.
“As part of this project we are also creating a grand plan, a master plan for this facility, so that what you don’t have are some projects starting over here and some projects starting over there and nothing ever getting done or information not being passed on to future board members,” the second-term state representative related.
“So, as part of this program not only are we going to make capital investments as part of this grant such as the ADA, the lighting, the irrigation, the paving, but we also are looking at it holistically from the top down to have a 5-year plan, a 10-year plan so that all that investment isn’t wasted long term.”
“I have to give kudos to the Mountain Top Youth Soccer Association,” Ryncavage offered. “The grant that they are going after is not an easy grant. Most municipalities can’t event qualify for these grants. They require professional engineering. They obviously require you to put your own skin in the game and so for Mountain Top Youth Soccer Association to put together 50 grand in less than 6 months to match this grant application as well as hire the necessary technical staff like professional and certified engineers to put the work together shows the commitment of the parents to make sure this stays here for years to come.”
Ryncavage said he anticipates the GTRP grant to be awarded this winter with construction to begin at the complex next spring.
