The Northern Virginia Daily

Article date: April 12, 2005

 Field work at former Avtex plant begins

 By: William C. Flook

Construction on a long-awaited soccer complex at the former Avtex site officially began Monday.

Local officials gathered at the 30-acre site for a groundbreaking ceremony that marks the beginning of the first phase of construction for the Skyline Soccerplex. North Carolina-based Ballard Sports, a sports field construction firm, has been contracted to build a stadium field with an irrigation system, three additional regulation fields, a playground, a shelter and a parking lot.

County Administrator Douglas P. Stanley said he expects the fields to be playable by next spring.  He said the groundbreaking, like the upcoming demolition of the powerhouse building, is a big step for the 440-acre site where a massive rayon plant once operated.

“It’s an important milestone in the redevelopment of the Avtex site,”he said.  “We are starting to get to the point when you are really starting to see significant events happen at this site.”

The Skyline Soccerplex is planned to accompany a 240-acre conservancy park and 160-acre business park as part of the total redevelopment of the Avtex site, which was declared an Environmental Protection Agency Superfund site in 1986.  The plant closed in 1989.

Paul Carroll, executive director of the Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority, said the EDA which owns the land, plans to transfer it to the county.

Stanley said the Warren County Parks and Recreation Department eventually will take over management of the soccer complex.

The first phase of construction is expected to be complete by summer.  The second phase includes lighting for a stadium, a rest-room and concession stand facility, a large bleacher section, a maintenance and storage facility, drinking fountains, break-out parking, a  walking trail, and three more fields according to information provided by the county, which said the goal is to complete the project in five to seven years.

A number of groups committed funds to the project which is expected to cost $722,906.

“It’s been a long process to get buy-ins from all the partners in the project,” Stanley said.

The complex has been planned since 1999, he said.

“Soccer has been played on that site for years,” he said.  “ We also knew that there was a need for a permanent home for soccer and upgraded facilities.”

Warren County has contributed $510,000, while the town contributed $73,387.  The United States Soccer Foundation has donated $120,000, and the Front Royal Soccer Association has put in $20,000.  Royal Oak Computers and Turner Real Estate each contributed $1,000 for the facility.

FMC, which as the only surviving company to own the rayon plant has been charged with a large portion of its remediation, committed $150,000 as an in-kind contribution.  Stanley , who thanked all contributing parties, called FMC’s contribution critical.

“Without FMC’s in-kind support to do the initial grading, we would never have gotten to this point,” he said.