The town plans to conduct stakeholder engagement later this fall regarding the athletic fields proposed under the draft 2017 capital budget, said chief operating officer Doug Wagstaff.
By then, precise details could be ironed out as to what would be built, how much it would cost and by when.
The 2017 capital budget has not yet been passed by council.
Wagstaff said he's expecting money to be spent next year for construction and design – the $1.65 million listed is an estimate. Then, construction would be finished in 2018, he said.
"It's pretty much $3 million in total."
The draft budget also lists the northwest development, which is infrastructure that needs to be built for the location, near Walmart.
Kim Dunn, president of the Olds Minor Soccer Club, is happy just to see the discussion happening. There were 370 players enrolled last summer, using whatever green space they could find.
"The bodies that we have are just spilling out everywhere," Dunn said.
Not only are there more players, they're also playing longer. Dunn said their season ends with provincials in July but some teams are entering tournaments on their own. Also, many are playing indoor soccer elsewhere in the off-season, she said.
“The chance is there that they don't come back to Olds because now they've been picked up by a bigger city team."
It's not just soccer, either. It's also the minor ball and lacrosse associations who need more space, she said.
Wagstaff has seen the demand grow over the years.
"It's also a demonstrated need. If you take a look at over the last decade, it's been something that's been building," he said.
"It's also a demonstrated need. If you take a look at over the last decade, it's been something that's been building." DOUG WAGSTAFF, chief operating officer
