Local athletes helped celebrate the official opening of the new artificial turf field in Queen's Park on Saturday.
Royal City Youth Soccer Association provided $200,000 toward the improvements to the field, which can be used for soccer, field lacrosse, softball and other sports. The use of artificial turf and the addition of lights mean athletes can use the field year-round.
In June 2010, city council directed staff to start planning for the development of a second artificial turf field. The city had considered several sites for the $2.18million field, eventually selecting the east field in Queen's Park.
The City of New Westminster's 2008 parks and recreation master plan identified a shortage of artificial turf fields and recommended that an extra four or five fields be built.
Royal City Youth Soccer has repeatedly urged the City of New Westminster to create another all-weather field in New Westminster. The city's first all-weather field is located at Mercer Stadium.
