The city of Alabaster is spending $45,000 to revitalize the youth soccer fields at Municipal Park.

The project will require the park to be closed until spring

2006, but the work won’t hinder the city’s youth soccer season this fall, said park superintendent Larry Vann.

The Parks and Recreation Department began spraying the Municipal Park fields to eliminate weeds, insects and unwanted grasses last week, shortly after Alabaster’s CityFest celebration.

When youth soccer teams return to the fields next year, they should find a healthier, more level playing surface, thanks to aerification techniques, some 700 cubic yards of sand and a new irrigation system.

&uot;Soccer is something that Alabaster Parks and Recreation is very interested in offering,&uot; Vann said. &uot;We are going to do everything in our power to make that happen.&uot;

Youth soccer will go on as usual this fall, Vann said, with games played at Buck Creek, Warrior and Veteran’s parks to give the Municpal Park fields time to recover.

The city had 287 players register for youth soccer last fall, and department officials expect more than 300 to enroll for the U6 through U16 programs when registration opens this summer.

The city will also offer a non-competitive developmental program this year for 4 and 5-year-olds.

Registration will be held Fridays and Saturdays, July 15-16 and 21-22 at the Depot in Alabaster. For more information call 664-6840