The Merrill Soccer Association is closing in on completion of a building that will benefit about 1,000 Merrill children and their families. A new building that will house restrooms, concessions and an announcer’s booth is currently under construction near the soccer fields at the Merrill Area Recreation Complex (MARC).
The building will serve youth and high school soccer players, totaling nearly 1,000 children, and their families. MSA board members are hoping to have the building completed next spring, in time for the start of soccer season.
The MSA runs the Merrill youth soccer programs (formerly organized by the Knights of Columbus) and helps with the high school programs.
Because a lot of families forego dinner in favor of soccer on game nights, MSA is hoping to offer nutritional suppers through the new concession stand so families can spend quality time together at the fields, noted MSA board member Kerri Schroder.
While Merrill soccer moved to the MARC more than a decade ago, this will be the first structure associated with the soccer fields. The restrooms will be especially welcome, as players and fans have had to use portable toilets or walk a considerable distance to the nearest bathroom at the MARC.
A petition for bathrooms at the soccer fields circulated a few years ago and garnered thousands of signatures. Plans for this facility started a couple of years ago. MSA has agreed to raise the funds, construct the building and then turn the completed facility over to the city, which owns the MARC. The buildings represents about a $65,000 investment, raised through player fees, fund raising, donations and a loan. MSA is still accepting contributions to cover the loan.
The Merrill Area Community Foundation last week presented a $5,000 grant to MSA toward construction of the building.
