Kids in jerseys came out in force to the Government Center yesterday evening in support of a proposed sports and leadership training center in Ashburn.

From top L-R: Emily Thompson, Hailey Shaw, Laura Nibbelink (in black), Hannah McShea, Ryan Oliver, Rachel Nibbelink, Madison Johnson and Elizabeth Lazarro. The girls of the Loudoun Soccer U10 travel team, and Laura (in black) who plays Western Loudoun Lacrosse show up to support Play to Win's proposed sports complex. (Photo by Erica Garman)

Chris Bourassa, the president and CEO of Play to Win, and his consultants, appealed to the planning commission last night to get a special exemption to build the center on forty acres midway between Rt. 7 and the W & O trail on Belmont Ridge Road.

Arianne Aryanpur wrote about Play to Win in Loudoun Extra yesterday.

Jean Nibbelink of Leesburg brought two of her three children that play sports to the public input session last night. "There are not enough fields in Loudoun County and the ones we have are in poor condition—even for indoor soccer, we have to sign up months in advance to get space," she said.

Most of the children who attended with parents and coaches last night sported soccer jerseys—Loudoun Soccer (red and white) and Ashburn Soccer Club (gold)—although there was a sprinkling of Lacrosse shirts as well. Team members of Washington Glory, a professional women's softball team were there, as was former NFL linebacker Eddie Mason, president of Mase Training.

Beckwith Bolle, president of Ashburn Soccer Club, told me her organization is supporting Play to Win out of necessity. "We want to let this new Board of Supervisors know how serious [our county's lack of fields] is. Loudoun has a lot of kids playing athletics, yet we have the poorest facilities in the state. They've left us no choice but to support a private venture."

According to the county's planning office, the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services is unable to fulfill all of the field allocation requests it gets. There are some 94,000 children in Loudoun playing on 46 youth leagues including soccer, football, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey. And let's not forget the adults—9,750 individuals on 540 teams.

As a mom with two kids on local soccer teams, I know firsthand that county fields are the pits, literally. Twisted ankles and tripping due to uneven terrain are common. Bolle says most of ASC's injuries (including the ones where the ambulance is called) are due to the fields—not the activity itself.

As much as projects like Play to Win are needed and welcomed by many in this county, the development, of course, is not without controversy.

Nearby residents are concerned with noise, lighting, traffic (sound familiar hospital controversy followers?) and 35 acres of trees will be leveled to make way for the project. And, let's not forget that Belmont Ridge Road is in dire need of improvements, and planners aren't sure exactly when that road will be widened or how it will be funded.

Do you think more playing fields are needed in Loudoun County? If so, should they be built and maintained with private or public dollars?