Beisch said “it’s a great location” for the current fields because the land is level, the city “has a lot started there” and the lights are good. If Rathje can’t find a better place, then the board “should go for the three fields there.”

Schwartz questioned field size.

“We won’t get high-quality tourneys with fields this short. We need a minimum of 300 feet, or even 325 feet,” Rathje said.

“We could ‘twist’ the fields,” Schwartz said.

“We could get an architect to fit [the three fields] in [the current location],” Rathje said. “At another location, there will be a cost for the land.”

Beisch said softball has already been established in the northwest quadrant at U.S. Highways 34 and 63.

“There would be room for four fields if we did a linear complex,” Rathje said.

“Somewhere Ottumwa needs a soccer complex,” Beisch said. “We may have to buy a nice piece of land.”

Beisch wondered about putting in three fields and moving soccer.

Rathje said another way might be two clusters of two fields each.

Councilman Bob Meyers serves as a council liaison to the park board. He commented on the sports complex at the former Walsh High School location.

Beisch wondered why the board should pursue more fields “since we have” the Walsh complex.

Schwartz said “we” don’t have that complex — the school district does.

“And the [school district] doesn’t have a pool,” Beisch said. “If we have a decent complex, why is soccer there?”

Rathje believes bigger, better fields will attract major tourneys.