Summer 2013
Parkallen
News In this issue… • Meet your Community League • Report for the Annual General Meeting • Community Garden • Classified
Congratulations to Parkallen’s U18 boys, who won gold in the Calgary Intercity Tournament!
The Beauty of Community Soccer On a sunny evening last spring, while driving my son to an ‘away’ soccer game, I saw dozens of kids, all wearing different shades of green jerseys, making their way towards the heart of Parkallen: the playing fields. The players were on foot, riding scooters and bikes some slowing down while others hurried to catch up with friends. Parents were trailing behind with siblings,
by Meghan Dunnigan
snacks, chairs and blankets. I felt an overwhelming sense of the importance of soccer in our community – and knew in my heart that the effort is well worth it. Our community soccer program has more than 100 athletes involved as players, coaches and referees. Success on the field is important, and we all talk about player development, but even more important, I
believe, is the development of neighbourhood ties. On Wednesday nights up to 70 players arrive at the fields, and that usually means 70 families getting together on the sidelines, sharing blankets and bug spray. Many of these families do not attend the local school. It is through this community activity that many Parkallen kids meet each other. New friendships are forged and