The Westfield Washington School Board has approved the sale of 20 acres east of Shamrock Springs Elementary School, 747 W. 161st St., to a private developer.
Superintendent Dr. Mark Keen said the district began the process of disposing of the land a year ago. He said the land was appraised for $50,000 an acre. The district received two bids and accepted the one from Westfield’s EdgeRock Development for $65,000 an acre.
Keen said the land will be used for transitional development.
“I know of the development plans,” he said. “I’m pretty sure they’ll meet the needs and desires of Spring Mill Station.”
Funds received for the land can only be used for capital projects, which include upkeep maintenance like new roofs, heating systems, parking lot repair and improvements inside the schools.
“It meets the needs of technology and other capital projects,” Keen said.
The land sold is used by the Westfield Youth Soccer Association/Indiana Fire Juniors soccer club as fields for recreational games and practices. In a prepared statement, the soccer club stated it respects the board’s decision and appreciates the thoughtful discussion that went into it.
“Shamrock Springs has been home to youth soccer games for the past decade,” it stated. “More than 1,000 young players between the ages of 4 and 18 have gathered every spring and fall to train weekly and play the game on weekends.”
Keen said part of the agreement with EdgeRock was that they will not begin development until November, which allows the club to use the fields for its spring and fall soccer leagues this year if it desires. The school board set a Nov. 15 deadline for the developer to obtain zoning approval for the sale to become final.
“Our club is 100 percent committed to continuing to offer the recreational soccer program to those players who want a less competitive, fun-focused soccer environment and a family friendly schedule,” the soccer club stated. “We are reaching out to our contacts with Indiana Sports Properties, which oversees Grand Park, to create a rec soccer program that is affordable and convenient for all of our member families. We also look forward to using Grand Park’s proposed indoor facility for rec soccer events, which will allow us to expand the programs for our local young players.”
As the league looks for a more permanent location, Keen said the district is offering an alternative.
“We have space for a lot of their games at Monon Trail Elementary,” he said. “There’s not enough area to give them everything they need but at least they have something.”
Westfield City Council members that attended the meeting told soccer club leaders that the city will work with us to establish a new recreational soccer home at Grand Park. Keen added that the district will make its facilities available.
