Greetings from District 3

Several years ago, when I was a Trustee of the Auburn Union Elementary School District, one of the issues I became aware of, was the shortage of playfields for youth sports teams.

In 2021 I was approached by the Newcastle Elementary School District (NESD) Superintendent Denny Rush and representatives of the Loomis Youth Soccer Club about the possibility of renovating an existing graded site on NESD property at Kentucky Greens Way in Newcastle. The site had been a former playfield that had been out of service because of a storm event more than 20 years ago, that flooded the field.

Superintendent Rush approached the Placer County Department of Parks and Open Space and requested County Support. The project would renovate the two-acre site that would support a full-sized soccer field.

In order to accomplish this, Parks and Open Space Administrator Andy Fisher brought forward a request to the Board of Supervisors to use Park Dedication Fees of $375,000 and Community and Support Fees from The General Fund of $150,000 to fund the renovation of the playfield.

This project will provide a public benefit to the surrounding communities of Loomis, Penryn, Newcastle, Ophir. The Placer County Board of Supervisors supported the request unanimously.

Andy Fisher said; “Denny Rush, Sue Wesselius and the Board of the Newcastle Elementary School District have been model partners in the development of this new soccer field to serve the kids of Newcastle, Ophir, Penryn, and Loomis.  Working with the School District gives us the best of all worlds: needed sports turf available for school children, youth leagues, and the many citizens of Placer County all while making efficient use of tax dollars.”

The work on the renovation is in progress now and I look forward to the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony later this fall.

I want to give a much deserved shout out to Dan Fonner, Placer County Parks & Grounds Superintendent, and his staff for bringing the stakeholders together with the vision for this much needed new field!

Have a happy and safe 4th of July. 

Warm Regards,