From: Brent Reed
Sent: Wednesday, April 8, 2026 5:42 PM
To: Phill Carter <[email protected]>
Subject: Wesco Soccer Mini pitches
Hi Phil,
Anne Morkill forwarded me the note about the soccer mini pitches but I was too late in responding before the meeting.
Just a couple of my personal observations/thoughts:
Drainage: Our native plant nursery has a 4"to 6"layer of compacted ¾" drain rock under it that is covered with a woven polypropylene fabric. This provides a solid, fairly stable surface, yet water percolates through and goes into a French drain that daylights into a vegetated swale. Low tech. Maybe something like that, with the turf on top of the compacted drain rock could be considered by Wesco for the proposed mini-pitches if drainage concerns are a sticking point. I am not sure if it would hold up to soccer but somebody may be an expert in that kind of analysis? Materials: My wife coached and my kids played Wesco and even some Analy soccer and the natural fiber and cork field at Analy was night and day better than the fields with the tire crumb fields. We were proud to host other teams on the Analy field and so glad that concerned people raised their voices and got that done! I was glad to see that the natural options are being pursued by Wesco. It may cost more but is so worth it in the end. I will personally donate to that cause! The crumb tire fields should be illegal - in my opinion.
I certainly want there to be more opportunities to see kids outside exercising and doing team-based activities to grow civility and keep them healthy and off of screens for a least a part of the day/evening.
Brent Reed
Stewardship Director
Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation