Blackhills Community Soccer Complex

The Complex Hits a Milestone!

On September 13, 2008, the Blackhills Football Club held their annual picnic at the Soccer Complex. Thanks to the hard work of Pat Calnan, the fields were ready for kids to play on. While we have much work to do, seeing kids playing on the fields makes all the hard work worth it!

If you would like to help in this community project, please call 360-438-2145.

Combined Fund Drive Open Enrollment

The Blackhills Community Soccer Complex Charity Code is 0330260.

Combine Fund Drive Website

First Mowing at the Complex!

First mowing at the Blackhills Community Soccer Complex! The grass is growing and so is our enthusiasm - kids will be kicking soccer balls at the complex soon.

New News!

On May 2nd, the Blackhills Community Soccer Complex signed the Agreement for the Youth Athletic Grant for $105,000 for power, irrigation, lights and goals! In addition, they just learned that the U.S. Soccer Foundation has selected the Soccer Complex for a $10,000 planning grant for a Master Plan design. These two highly competitive grants show how important the soccer complex is to our community and for our youth soccer players.

The Blackhills Community Soccer Complex relies on your help too. The Youth Athletic Grant requires a $115,000 match. This can come from donated goods and services, but cash donations are needed for supplies and construction work.

In addition, the land for the soccer complex was not donated, it was purchased. There is a mortgage payment that must be paid. The BHCSC needs to raise $26,000 each year to make the land payment. The BHCSC needs your help right now. This is YOUR complex. This is where YOUR children will be playing soccer. The BHCSC is all volunteer run, by soccer parents like you. Please help us make the BHCSC a reality, please donate right now to help with the land payment and the grant match.

Contact Dee Ragsdale for more informaiton or to donate: 438-2145 or davidragsdale@comcast.net

Who We Are:

The Blackhills Community Soccer Complex is a non-profit organization recognized by the State of Washington (UBI #: 602 237 039) and awarded 501(c)3 status by the Internal Revenue Service (EIN: 71 0904896). We are a volunteer organization whose mission is to build a multi-field soccer complex to support youth soccer in Thurston, Mason and Lewis Counties. Our Board of Directors includes representatives from the Tumwater Youth Soccer Club, the Deschutes Youth Soccer Association, and Blackhills Football Club.

Success is Contagious!

In one year, the soccer complex transformed from dirt, dust and mud to grass. We are close to seeing kids play on the fields thanks to volunteers who spent long hours hand-picking sticks and debris and the loan of graders from Lakeside Industries and Wilder Construction. Volunteer operators completed the final leveling of the six fields in time for fall planting. Wilco Agriliance of Chehalis donated fertilizer and planted the seed. Seed was donated by Oregon seed-growing businesses, Ampac Seeds, Burlington Seeds and Mountain View Seed.

Soccer Ball Success!

Thank you volunteers, donors, and attendees! The 7th Annual Soccer Ball was a great success. List of 2007 Donors.

State Employees Donate

Find out how Washington State employees can donate to the Soccer Field
Project through the Combined Fund Drive (organization #330260).

The Problem:

Currently there are more than 6,000 youth soccer players in Thurston County and participation is increasing about 10% annually. However, the number of full-sized soccer fields available is remaining constant. Each year almost 800 youth soccer games are scheduled on the available fields. In addition, many of the fields are used for soccer practices anywhere from two or three times per week to almost daily. This does not include games or practices by soccer teams affiliated with middle schools or high schools, adult league soccer games, modified games for players younger than 11 years old, or Kick-in-the-Grass Soccer Tournament games. In addition, many of these fields are used for youth football games and practices.

The demands on existing fields often lead to overuse and poor quality (sometimes dangerous) field conditions. Due to overuse and during the rainy season (November through February) many fields are closed.

What does the future hold?

Increased demand for fields by soccer, rugby, and football.
Addition of some new fields to the system (e.g., the Lacey RAC complex).
Closure or further use restrictions of some currently available fields due to over use and lack of maintenance funds.

Our view is that there will be some progress in alleviating pressure on fields but not nearly enough to accomodate the increasing demand.

Fields for Today, Fields for Tomorrow