LINDON — Whatever the name of the game, when it comes to developing on top of the North Point Solid Waste District landfill, the key player is water.
How does one efficiently and economically water a mountain made of trash?
Three men from Orem have tried for three years to get enough money together to turn the old landfill area into a youth golf course, but they've been unable to raised the $1.5 million they estimate it would take to put in a sprinkler system and develop the course. Their lease with the district has run out.
Now there is a plan to put eight soccer fields, restrooms and a playground on the hill that covers a mound of garbage gathered from Utah County cities over a 50-year period. The landfill was abandoned in 1993 and capped in 1994.
Mike Tate and his son, representing the European Pro Soccer Association's Utah County chapter, have talked with the district board and are now trying to determine themselves the best way to irrigate the 29 acres on the level area at the top of the mound.
Association players desperately need more playing space, and the landfill district would like to see the area put to good use. District Manager Stewart Cowley has said the board is open to all suggestions.
Tate believes the soccer fields are a perfect fit — if water can be provided without damaging the clay cap and pumped without excessive cost.
Cowley said the biggest issue with putting anything on the landfill is providing water without a high-pressure line or digging a trench.
"They can't dig down into the clay cap," Cowley said. "And we need a system to protect the cap from a water line break."
Cowley said there are ways to mitigate the potential damage to the landfill, such as bringing in enough soil to provide more of a buffer and setting up lift stations to boost the water up onto the flat, but they're expensive.
Tate said soccer is the fastest-growing sport in the nation and in Utah, so providing more fields is critical.
"Here in Utah, we have more children playing soccer than any other sport, and there would be a lot more if there were more playing space," Tate said. "We need fields desperately."
If a workable plan to get water up onto the landfill's top can be found, the site would work beautifully, Tate said. There is plenty of room for parking and there are no obstacles to interfere with play.
"It would be good for the community because soccer is a family sport," he said. Tate said there are plenty of volunteers and offers of help with equipment and labor. Money to solve the water problem is the critical issue.
"If anybody has ideas or money or both, tell them to contact us," Tate said.
Currently, the Utah Valley clubs have 250 to 300 youngsters from ages 4 to 18 playing in the region. Each year, more than 1,500 children participate just in the EPSA organization, which has offices in American Fork, Cedar Hills and north Utah County.
To reach Tate, call 492-0926 or e-mail him at miketate@epsasoccer.com.
E-mail: haddoc@desnews.com