FOOTBALL PLAYERS TO KICK OFF IN DRUG ZONE

Residents Hope Players Will Deter Crime Activity

The pitter-patter of more than 60 pairs of cleats may soon come to
Deverill Square in Nanaimo's south end.

The city, the Vancouver Island Raiders and the South End Community
Association are working together to turn the field at the corner of
Haliburton and Milton Streets into the football team's new practice
field.

"It's an opportunity to maybe bring a little excitement in the
evenings to the area," said Raiders coach Matt Blokker.

The park is under "considerable" pressure from drug activity and
regular appearances from the burly football players would deter seedy
elements from congregating there, said South End Community Association
president Douglas Hardie.

"Our association fully endorses this proposal and we are delighted to
host the Raiders in our neighbourhood park," Hardie wrote in a letter
to the city's parks and recreation committee.

Allowing the Raiders practices is one of many proposed solutions for
the south end, including regular cleanups and improved lighting, that
aim to curb open drug use and prostitution in the neighbourhood.

Reports of condoms and needles found in the area have not scared the
team off.

"That's a safety issue that we'd really have to take a good look at,"
said Blokker, who noted every practice could be kicked off with sweep
of the field.

Blokker said the team would try and get two practices in at the park
each week.

Without change rooms or storage facilities, Blokker said they would
continue to practice at the old Waterloo Elementary site as well.