A new place to play

Allison Brophy Champion / Culpeper Star Exponent
Published: June 25, 2007

Culpeper's young athletes now have another place to hone their skills.

Per an agreement put in place last week between the town of Culpeper and Germanna Community College, youth sports leagues can practice in the fields surrounding the GCC Center for Advanced Technology, just east of town off of McDevitt Drive.

The agreement was worked out through the town's parks and recreation commission as a way to increase valuable yet limited practice space for numerous youth leagues in Culpeper.

Like with other town parks and/or facilities, there will be no charge to the league to use the space at Germanna.

But in exchange, the town public works department will provide field maintenance, including annual aeration, top dressing and over-seeding.

GCC staff will mow the grass, as usual, and the sports leagues will make sure no trash is left behind.

At tonight's meeting at 7 p.m. in town hall, the parks and recreation commission will further iron out all the rules and regulations for use of the GCAT fields. Use of the field and reservations will be handled through the town planning office with parks and rec. having the final say.

Striping on the fields will not be permitted and groups will be responsible for any damage.

Kathleen Snyder, who serves on the parks and recreation commission, said use of the fields would fill a big need.

"It's a great thing because as you know we are out of space.
"There are only so many fields," she said.

Richard Brehm, vice president of administrative services at GCC, said allowing local sports leagues to practice on the underused fields was done in the spirit of cooperation.

"Both the town and the county were very supportive of the project in Culpeper and as a community college we try to cooperate with the community when we get requests like this," he said.

"It's also a good way to make sure people in the area become familiar with the college."

The contract between the town and Germanna will stand for two years, at which time it can be renewed. The Germanna Center for Advanced Technology sits on 32-acres.

Allison Brophy Champion can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 101 or

Need practice space-

GCAT opens up fields to youth sports

Per a recently finalized agreement between the town of Culpeper and Germanna Community College, youth sports leagues can use the fields around GCAT for practice. There is no fee, but there are rules:

- No play when fields are wet or it is raining.
- League presidents are the only ones who can reserve the fields, and it will be his/her responsibility to coordinate usage for practice by multiple teams.
- The athletic fields may not be reserved more than three times per week by any league, unless the town parks and recreation commission decides otherwise.
- League officials will be responsible for removing trash.
- No striping of the fields will be allowed. Cones or other removable equipment may be used.
- The town will close the fields for maintenance in August and September each year.
- The town reserves the right to close the fields, without notice, because of excessive use, weather or damage.

'**The parks and rec. commission will finalize the rules at tonight's meeting at 7 p.m. in town hall. Call the planning department at 829-8260 to make a reservation to use the fields at GCAT.