Kitchener City Council will work with the Kitchener Soccer Club to make sure that kids participating in soccer within the community have a place to play after Budd shuts down four of its soccer fields in 2014 by initiating an “Every Kid Plays” policy.

The policy was first passed in 2003, in regards to minor hockey, making sure all kids who wanted to play the sport was able to.

Councillor Berry Vrbanovic brought forward the proposal at Monday’s council meeting and said the motion will help the sport grow.

“This motion will certainly help it (soccer) grow in the future in our community.”

And grow it has, there has been an 86 per cent increase in participation in minor soccer in the community since 2002, and it’s expected to rise to 10000 by 2017.

The development of additional playing fields, including artificial turf fields, have already been identified as a priority in the City’s Leisure Facilities Master Plan.