Written by: Carlos Torres
Recent changes to the Thatcher Switch Recreation Area include the installation of a new mountain biking ramp track.
The park is located across from Southern Adventist University’s campus and is commonly referred to as the beginning of the Collegedale Wolftever Greenway.
The area includes a playground and event pavilion, as well as a recreational field that was well-known to soccer athletes in the Collegedale area. Now half of the field is available for soccer, and half is devoted to the new biking course.
According to Christina Clark, Parks & Recreation supervisor for the City of Collegedale, the city received feedback that beginner mountain bikers needed an entry-level track to ride.
“Local bike coordinators and users of local mountain bike trails gave feedback of how the mountain bike ramp track could be beneficial for new riders,” Clark stated in an email to the Accent. “We received lots of positive feedback from the community after installation.”
However, this change has sparked some concern in the community.
Alissa Flores, a junior journalism major at Southern and an avid soccer player, believes the soccer field brings many benefits to the community. She has often seen people practicing on the field and has personally frequented it to play soccer with friends.
“Local bike coordinators and users of local mountain bike trails gave feedback of how the mountain bike ramp track could be beneficial for new riders.”
“I don’t think it’s fair to take away a place specifically for soccer when that’s one of the only locations to play, while there are plenty of mountain biking trails all around the City of Collegedale,” she said in an interview.
According to Trailforks, a popular trail-finding app for mountain biking, more than 23 biking trails are located in Collegedale.
Trace Rolle, a community member and mountain biking fan, doesn’t think the newly installed tracks are at the level they should be, and he would rather “hit the trails,” since plenty are at his disposal.
Some students and Collegedale community members who regularly played soccer at the park have expressed frustration with the change, as it reduces their options for playing soccer in the area.
“One of the closest locations [to Southern’s campus] that has nets out is 10-15 minutes away, and not everyone has a car to get there,” Flores said, in reference to Redoubt Soccer Field, a public county park at 6900 Bonny Oaks Drive.
Clark cited the lack of use of the Thatcher Switch recreational field and the fact that the field is not regulation-sized as reasons for building the ramp track.
Clark stated that at this time, there are no current plans to relocate the soccer fields.
Flores hopes the City of Collegedale will consider building a community park that would provide the growing population with a gathering place to enjoy sports they love. She also hopes the city’s Parks and Recreation Department will get more community involvement, even if it means moving the course to a different location to preserve the community’s soccer field.
According to Clark, the city wants community members to be involved and share their thoughts and ideas.
“Community members are encouraged to attend Commission meetings, speak during the public comment period to propose ideas and can also email commissioners@collegedaletn.gov,” Clark stated.
