Soccer pitches in RDP in dire condition

The Rivire-des-Prairies Soccer Club says that the borough has long neglected soccer fields in their area and now they've been forced to reschedule games out of concern that players might be injured on the pitch.

"We have inter-city teams who show up to play games here and their coaches say it's too dangerous," said Bruno Di Spirito, president of the RDP Soccer Club.

Coaches say it's too dangerous.- Bruno DiSpirito, president of the RDP Soccer Club

Di Spirito said the club decided to reschedule every game slated to be played at Parc Dollard-Morin this season after a team from NDG refused to play there.

He said the pitch on Maurice-Duplessis Blvd., west of Armand-BombardierBlvd.,is the worst field in the boroughwith no grass in front of the nets, large grooves where sod is missing, an uneven surface, and rocks that have broken through the soil.

According to Manuel Guedes, borough councillor for Rivire-des-PrairiesPointe-aux-Trembles, the borough is in the process of rectifying the problem. He agrees that the fields have been neglected.

"As a borough this should have been on top of our priorities," said Guedes. "I understand why some people are disappointed."

Guedes said that since taking office in the 2013 municipal election, he's been working on a plan to revamp the fields. He said it's only a matter of time now and all that is missing is the borough to approve a budget.