PORT ANGELES — A $205,500 matching grant from the state Recreation and Conservation Office has enabled Clallam County to purchase the 7.4-acre soccer fields in Agnew.
The facility is the only one of its kind between Port Angeles and Sequim.
Commissioners Mike Doherty, Steve Tharinger and Mike Chapman on Tuesday approved a preliminary closing agreement with Clallam Title Co. to proceed with the $411,000 purchase of the 7.4- acre complex that has space for two full-sized soccer fields.
The closing date is July 31.
The agreement signed Tuesday authorizes Clallam Title to oversee and proceed with the purchase, County Administrator Jim Jones said.
Club donation
Agnew Helpful Neighbors Club, which owns the fields, is donating $55,500 — a portion of the county’s share of matching funds — to keep the fields open for soccer players.
The county is spending about $150,000 on the transaction, Public Works Director Craig Jacobs said.
“Agnew Helpful Neighbors Club is really saving the taxpayers in our county from the actual cost to the county in the form of a donation,” Jacobs said.
Donation helps county
The county is using that donation to cover its half of the price.
“The county share won’t be as much as the state’s,” Jacobs explained.
The state legislature and the Recreation and Conservation Funding Board has approved the $205,500 grant, Susan Zemek, communications director for state Recreation and Conservation Funding Board, confirmed on Tuesday.
Agnew Helpful Neighbors Club has leased the land to the Storm King Soccer Club for about 15 years, but intends to sell the property to establish a fund to finance its scholarship program.
The volunteer soccer club built the two playing fields and restrooms on the property.
The Storm King Club maintained the fields while leasing them.
Both clubs supported the county’s plans to purchase the property to keep it from being developed.
“We did not want to lose two soccer fields,” Jacobs added.
Using cones, younger teams can divide the facility into more fields.
Although the Helpful Neighbors gave the Storm King Club the right of first refusal, the club had no money to buy the land.
Members asked the three county commissioners to purchase it.
The Helpful Neighbors delayed listing the property to allow the county to apply for funds.
The soccer club will continue to maintain the fields.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com
