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• <br /> variety of other concerns, the best option for a single field appeared to be on the campus of <br /> Churchill High School and Kennedy lvfiddle school. $3.5 million was an estimate of what it <br /> would cost to construct one synthetic ( "astro- turf') multi -sport field with seating for 2000, at <br /> Churchill High School. (The approximate area of this surface was estimated at 100,000 square <br /> feet to support soccer with run -offs in the width, and football with run -offs in the length). Many <br /> people within the community, as well as the high schools, stated that their preference would be to <br /> have a field at each of the four high schools. As a result, the School Board instructed the staff to <br /> assess the four field option, determine the cost, and see if there was some way to fund this option <br /> with the $3.5 million from the bond levy. <br /> The District hired the architecture firm of WBGS, in association with Cameron McCarthy Gilbert <br /> (CMG) Landscape Architects and Balzhiser Hubbard Engineers to meet with the District and help <br /> assess the four fields vs. one field options. An advisory committee was established to work with <br /> the consultants. The advisory committee included administrators from each high school, the <br /> athletic directors from each high school, at least one "booster" from each high school, <br /> representation from the 4J Superintendent's and facilities management offices, as well as <br /> representatives from the City of Eugene, and Kidsports (the major youth sports provider in the <br /> Eugene area). During the assessment period, the District identified a synthetic field surface <br /> product called "Field Turf" which appears to be far safer than "astro- turf," and is also <br /> considerably less expensive. The results of the work of the consultants and the committee is <br /> tabulated in a report dated 2/5/99, and which is attached to this RFP. The committee <br /> recommended that if funding could be obtained, the best solution for the District and the <br /> community would be to build a synthetic ( "Field Turf') field at every high school at Option D, as <br /> identified on the 2/5 /999 document. The cost of option D is approximately $6.4 million. It was <br /> believed by the committee that fund raising would be sufficient to procure sound systems, goal <br /> posts, and score boards, which are the components which create the difference between Option C <br /> and Option D. As a result, the District goal has been to identify funding for Option C - <br /> approximately $6.2 million. <br /> City History <br /> For the past several years, a group of community youth sports supporters has worked as a <br /> committee, called the Fields of Dreams, to develop a plan for improving and increasing the <br /> number of athletic and recreational fields available for the youth of the community. Subsequently, <br /> the Mayor of the City of Eugene formed a task force to support and promote the work started by <br /> the Fields of Dreams group. Among other options, the groups identified and supported the <br /> development of multi - sport/activity youth parks. To target youth, and to make the best use of <br /> available public property and infrastructure, the group proposed the development of youth sports <br /> complexes on the under - utilized grounds of District 4J schools. <br /> As part of the bond proposal for parks and open space, the City proposed, as part of their total <br /> bond request, a request for $4 million to build two youth sports parks, targeted for the Churchill <br /> and Sheldon regions of the City. The exact locations and designs were to be developed after <br /> passage of the bond. <br />