GAINESVILLE, Va. – A Prince William County Supervisor Peter Candland has called attention to the state of sports fields in Prince William County. He says some leagues are turned away from using sports facilities because there isn’t enough room for them to play.
More in a press release from Candland:
Supervisor Pete Candland hosted a town hall meeting last week featuring a panel discussion focusing on improving the sports leagues in Western Prince William County. The panel discussion involved representatives from the county Department of Parks and Recreation as well as leaders of sports leagues in the county.
“As a former high school basketball referee and father of children active in local sports, I know firsthand the value of athletics for our youth,” said Candland. “Our sports leagues in the county are growing every year, and it’s important that we keep up with the demands. Unfortunately, there are instances where leagues must turn away children because there isn’t enough capacity. This is why I felt it was important to bring together some of the main stakeholders to have an open and honest discussion about the future of sports in the Gainesville District and all of Prince William County.”
With over 80 people in attendance, much of the discussion focused on the allocation of county and school owned fields and gymnasiums for use by the sports leagues and improving the communication between leagues and county officials. As the population continues to grow and more children participate in athletics, it is critical that the county finds ways to improve the accessibility of our youth to sports programs.
Candland added, “While we may not have reached an ultimate solution tonight, I feel that we accomplished a major step in bringing everyone together to have a meaningful discussion. There were many opinions and ideas shared, and the next step forward is to work together to ensure that our children are not turned away from opportunities to participate in athletics. I’m fully committed in reaching this goal.”
