San Marcos and Hays County officials blow whistles to officially begin the games at the new Five Mile Dam Soccer Complex. Officials in attendance include (from left) County Commissioners Debbie Gonzales-Ingalsbe and Jeff Barton, San Marcos Councilmembers Kim Porterfield and John Thomaides, San Marcos Mayor Susan Narvaiz, County Commissioner Will Conley and Hays County Parks Director Jerry Pinnix. (PHOTOS BY CYNDY SLOVAK-BARTON)
by CYNDY SLOVAK-BARTON
Hundreds of future soccer stars fidgeted and squirmed as county and city of San Marcos officials talked about the cooperation and grant funds it took to get the new Five Mile Dam Park Soccer Complex up and running.
The official grand opening of the complex took place Saturday morning, with County Commissioners Jeff Barton, Debbie Gonzales-Ingalsbe and Will Conley and San Marcos Mayor Susan Narvaiz and San Marcos Councilmembers Kim Porterfiled, John Thomaides and Fred Terry all in attendance.
The joint operation included $2.26 million from San Marcos and $2.33 million through Hays County. The complex includes 10 soccer fields on 32 acres. More than 3,000 people attended the opening weekend at the park on Labor Day, with the fields filled with players.
The San Marcos Area Youth Soccer Association is the host organization at the park. With the central location between San Antonio and Austin, officials are already talking about soccer tournaments at the new site.
