Didn't I just suggest that this would happen?!

It's been a mere 5 days since Zilker park has been open again, and as I predicted, they've already banned soccer. (because it tears up the valuable grass). 

Thanks, ACL!  Your 3-day business for tens of thousands of non-austinites is now far more important than the happiness and year-round enjoyment of the park as it used to be, by thousands of sports enthusiasts from the ages of 10 to over 50 that actually live here year round.

(don't get me wrong, I'm not against ACL, I'm just against the new rules of hich they were clearly the catalyst.)  

 

Next, the city (with input by ACL mgmt, since they are pretty much paying for the grass) will ban all frisbee and remote controlled airplanes as they're "dangerous", then they will ban dogs, or definitely ban dogs OFF leash, and finally they will ban all regular people who have not paid to attend ACL for three days a year. ; )

  

It will be the greenest park in Austin, and will also be the park with the most "KEEP OFF THE GRASS", "NO BALL SPORTS, CLEATS, or HIGH HEELS", "NO REMOTE FLYING OBJECTS", "NO PICNIC BLANKETS", "NO NAPPING UNDER A TREE IN THE SHADE", "NO DOGS OFF LEASH", "NO OPENED TOED SHOES" signs in America.

Hahahha.  Yes I'm exagerating a little, but you'll see. It's just a matter of time.

 

Oh, and then they'll start charging $7 to park instead of the already old

too high a price of $3!  Heh heh heh 

 

http://www.news8austin.com/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=250715

Organized soccer leagues might get the red card at Zilker Park
Updated: 8/25/2009 4:12:24 PM

It re-opened less than a week ago, and already controversy is brewing about who gets to use the Great Lawn at Zilker Park.

Some might call the debate a literal turf war.

On one side, there are hundreds who use Zilker Park as a soccer field.

Soccer players like Will Moody look forward to being able to have a middle ground location for players to meet at.

"It's kind of great that we can have something so central that we can all play at," Moody said.

On the other side, there are the people in charge of Zilker Park, the Parks and Recreation Department. 

	For More Information
• A full list of activities going on at Zilker Park can be found on their website. • Reserving tables and facilities forspecial events at Zilker Park.

"They're not soccer complex fields," Joanna Mesecke with Austin's PARD said.

The City's Parks and Recreation Board, doesn't want any more organized or league sports teams to use Zilker Park.

The possible new rules, which need approval from Austin City Council, are important to the Parks Department; especially considering the city just paid more than $2 million on new grass.

The city has an agreement that they will get paid back for the new grass, but day to day maintenance is paid for and not reimbursable by the city.

"We did not do the install for soccer field specifications," Mesecke said. 

Mesecke added that when teams use the field, often, they damage the grass and the city that has to pay for the repair. 
Soccer players are in a bit of an uproar about the whole situation.

"Can you ask them if they built it for 80,000 people to come once a year for ACL?" soccer player, Esteban Lardone said.

"What was it built for then? What was it built for besides people like us using it," Moody said.

The Parks and Recreation Department stills need approval from city council and they intend to get input from soccer players before they establish any rules.

"We're going to have some additional dialogue with our soccer friends," Mesecke said. "If we see that they are going to start putting up nets and goals, we are going to ask them to vacate the premises and we are going to try to find some alternate locations for them."

	The City's Parks and Recreation Board doesn't want any more organized or league sports teams to use Zilker Park.

But most of those playing soccer aren't interested in an alternate place to play.

They think, they have just as much of a right to use Zilker Park as anyone else does.

Austin City Council will make the final decision on the issue. That date has not been set yet.

Back in 2006, Austin stopped renting out the park to sports leagues.

The city said it lost some money, but the cost to repair the damages in most cases was higher than the rental fees.