BY EARNEST WINSTON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
BURLINGTON -- Boone County officials will announce today a deal to build 10 soccer fields on Ky. 8 near Hebron.
County Administrator Jim Collins has negotiated a 20-year agreement, with options for four five-year extensions, with three brothers to construct 10 soccer fields, parking, picnic shelters and a playground on 40 acres. The land is just east of the new ballpark at Rivershore's Sports Complex, which is owned by Jay, Craig and Mark Conrad.
Under the deal, likely to be approved by Boone County Fiscal Court, the county would lease the 40 acres from the Conrad brothers for $1 a year. Construction would begin as soon as possible, and the first fields could be ready in time for the 2000 fall soccer season. The facility would be called The Giles Conrad Soccer Complex and Park, named for the Conrad brothers' father. It would provide fields for about 140 teams a year.
"The thing that I'm most pleased with is that we are utilizing the river area. We're putting a park in the northern section of Boone County. There is a nice population growth there," Mr. Collins said. "It's got good accessibility. It's probably just five minutes away from I-275 and Ky. 237. It's just a great thing for them to do for the county."
Mr. Collins is recommending that construction costs, totaling $600,000, be funded from the county's capital projects account. Phase I would cost $510,000, and Phase II, which would pay for restrooms, is estimated to cost $90,000.
Giles Conrad said the decision to lease the 40 acres to the county was easy because his family doesn't have any plans for the land and because two of his sons played soccer at Dixie Heights High School. "It's hard to get soccer fields to play on," said Mr. Conrad, of Hebron.
Boone County operates 18 soccer fields in conjunction with its nine area parks.
