"New soccer fields will be taking shape soon on the 30 acres off Langley Road recently purchased by the South Whidbey Parks & Recreation District.The district commissioners Wednesday night authorized calling for bids on what Parks Director Jerry Cole calls the dirt work, such as leveling areas and bringing in sand and topsoil.Bids are scheduled to be opened Sept. 6 and work should begin soon after that, Cole said Thursday morning. Three large fields are planned, each of which can accommodate up to two soccer fields. But that's only if construction bids are as estimated. We haven't opened any bids yet, Cole noted.Cole expects that work on an irrigation system will take place this coming winter and said, We'll grow grass in the spring. Play on the fields could begin in the late winter or early spring of 2002. Plans are to begin construction of restroom facilities next summer.The new property will also offer a trail system, and Cole said work on that could begin this winter. Volunteers are expected to create the trails.Wednesday's meeting was preceded by the Parks District's annual walk through the park, but this year it was greatly abbreviated. Only Cole and Commissioner Curt Gordon showed up on time and no members of the public attended. We didn't walk anywhere, Cole said. Curt already knows where everything is.Also on Wednesday's agenda was the new skateboard park sponsored by the South Whidbey Rotary Club. The park will be located near the playground where the volleyball court has always been. The volleyball court will be moved. Cole said three architectural firms responded to a call for expressions of interest, one from California, one from Lake Stevens and one from Spokane. All three will be contacted.Skateboard park construction should begin next summer. "

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