Raleigh, NC -Capital Area Soccer League (CASL) will hold a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, May 26 to kick-off the much anticipated $3.8 million renovation to WRAL Soccer Park. The ceremony will be held from 11:00-11:30am at 7700 Perry Creek Road, Raleigh, 27616.

Speakers at the groundbreaking ceremony will include Gary Buete, CASL CEO, Jim Goodmon, CBC President and CEO, and Denny Edwards, Greater Raleigh Convention & Visitors Bureau President and CEO. The event is open to the public.

WRAL Soccer Park has been home to CASL ever since CBC generously sold the land to the budding youth soccer league in 1979. Since then, the 21-field complex has grown into a destination sports complex for state, regional, and national sporting events including the annual CASL visitRaleigh.com National Soccer Series, U.S. Lacrosse Southeast Championships, U.S. Open Ultimate [Frisbee] Championships, and the upcoming Powerade State Games.

"We are excited that our CASL players and families will be able to experience these upgrades in the next few months. Players will have a better experience on the field, and our families will get to enjoy the added amenities our park will offer," said Buete. "Beyond that, WRAL Soccer Park will continue to be a destination sports complex that will bring outside visitors to our local businesses."

Highlights of the renovation project include the following:
Paving: Paved parking lots and lined spaces will create more efficient parking. The renovation includes the addition of a new parking lot at the facility, which will increase the number of spaces available for visitors.

Restrooms & Shelters: The sprawling 118 acre footprint of the complex calls for more restrooms and shelters. In addition to the permanent restrooms currently at the facility, three additional restrooms & shelters will be strategically placed around the soccer park. Picnic tables and a vending machine will be offered at each shelter.

Field upgrades: New turf, fencing, field nets, and/or an automated irrigation system will help our field and game conditions. CASL will re-turf Durham Bulls (stadium) field in summer 2015. Fences and field nets will help keep the ball in the bounds of each playing field. With the expansion of the pond on site, each grass field will also be more efficiently irrigated, reducing the amount of standing water and mud.

Landscaping and walkways: Trees, bushes and other greens will be planted throughout the park to add a "park-like" feel to the complex year-round. The added landscaping will provide shade to visitors who stay on the premises for a duration of the day. Visitors will also be able to enjoy the landscaping on new paved walkways throughout the park that will connect to the Greenway.

Other updates include new signage and a new maintenance operations center. New signs will also be constructed for each field, directional crossroads, and entrance to the park. The new operations center will be nestled in the back of the facility away from pedestrians and out of sight.

CBC is awarding CASL a $335,000 grant to assist with the renovation. These grant funds will primarily be used for new park landscaping and signage. The remaining support is coming from a generous loan provided by CBC. Zachery Michael Commercial Construction will manage the renovation, which is scheduled to be completed by the fall 2015 soccer season. These renovation upgrades add to the most recent facility enhancements, which included two synthetic turf fields constructed with the help of the City of Raleigh in 2013.

Founded in 1974, CASL is one of the largest and most recognizable youth soccer clubs in the nation with more than 9,000 players. The mission of the Capital Area Soccer League (CASL) is to provide positive and high-quality instructional and competitive youth soccer opportunities at all levels of play that enhance character, community and the love of the game for a diverse membership of children ages 4-18 and their families across Wake County and to serve as a community partner to improving the quality of life in Wake County.

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