Ellicottville Youth Soccer Gets New Equipment Shed at Village Park
Ellicottville Youth Soccer Gets New Equipment Shed at Village Park
Three years of fundraising and community support give Ellicottville Youth Soccer a secure new home for equipment as participation continues to grow.
After years of sharing storage space with a few unwanted four-legged visitors, equipment for the Ellicottville Youth Soccer program has a brand-new space to call home.
A new equipment shed has been completed and replaces an aging structure believed to have been built in the 1980s. The new shed sits in the same location as its predecessor near the upper soccer field at the Ellicottville Village Park, and will provide secure storage for soccer nets, balls, sponsor banners, goal hardware, and other equipment used throughout the program’s seasons.
“The old shed had served the soccer program for approximately four decades, but over the years, its condition had deteriorated and critters had become an ongoing problem,” said Kate Johnson, Ellicottville Youth Soccer Committee member. “To protect some of the program’s equipment, items had to be stored off-site at the homes of our committee members.”
The new shed has been a long-term goal for the Ellicottville Youth Soccer Committee, which includes Kate, Charlene Basher, Brooke Kasprzak, and Melissa Dahlman. The group spent approximately three years saving toward the project, with support from local businesses, organizations, and community members helping make it possible.
“The shed was built by ‘Amish Andy,’ with Home Depot donating plywood and house wrap and providing discounts on the garage door, access door, and other building materials,” said Kate. “Dave Halloran donated the windows, while the Town of Ellicottville and my husband, Scott, assisted with removing the old structure and getting the new shed into place.”
The improvement comes as Ellicottville Youth Soccer continues to grow. According to Kate, the summer recreational program typically welcomes between 130 and 150 children from U6 through U14. The organization has also expanded beyond its traditional summer season, adding a Fall Recreational League for students in grades 3-6. Ellicottville Youth Soccer also supports participation in the Enchanted Mountain league during the spring, giving local players opportunities to stay on the field throughout much of the year.
“With more children participating and the program continuing to expand, the new shed will allow coaches and volunteers to keep equipment organized, protected, and conveniently located right at the fields where it is needed,” said Kate.
The project was made possible in part through the generosity of sponsors who have supported Ellicottville Youth Soccer over the past several years. Sponsors include Pour Taproom, Refined Media, RocketCup, The Boardroom, Holiday Valley, HoliMont, Inner Peace and Strength, Anew Beginning Massage & Spa, Madigan’s, EVL Rentals, The City Garage, Valley Ridge, Purple Doorknob, RE/MAX On Point, Tim & Bonnie’s, Frentz Excavating, Homegrown Pediatrics, Ellicottville Pharmacy, Telaak Farms, Ellicottville Teachers Association, and Brendan Chudy’s Tonys.
