The Magnolia Soccer Club is taking a stand in support of the proposed land swap between the Port of Seattle and City of Seattle related to King County’s efforts to find a home for a 1.8 million-gallon combined sewer overflow tank.

Soccer Club president Mark MacGillivray is urging support for option B which he says would provide the opportunity to improve the quality of the U-11 fields at Smith Cove and build an attractive park at the same time.  Not surprisingly, his group supports the plan that would retain the soccer fields.

Here is what he tells us via email:  “There are competing views for the future of Smith Cove, some of which eliminate the soccer fields altogether.  The Magnolia Soccer Club Board has attended community meetings on this proposal, met with Seattle Parks and the Port of Seattle, and believes strongly that the Magnolia Soccer community needs to support the proposed land swap.  The Magnolia Soccer Board is in favor of the land swap because it brings with it the opportunity to improve the quality of the playfields that now exist at Smith Cove.  Since these fields would be built over the reservoir, they could be designed and constructed to provide for a more even, better-draining playing surface.   In addition, preliminary park plans include beach access, a waterfront walking trail and other amenities on this site.  In short, we’d get better soccer fields located in a much more attractive setting.  The City’s budget challenges mean there is no opportunity to improve the current soccer fields; the funding for these improvements can only come from the County as a part of the land swap and reservoir project.  Even after the swap is made, we’d continue to use the current Smith Cove playfields until the new park is completed (expected to be in 2013).”

To see all four proposals for the site, click here.