BEND, OR -- The local Bend FC Timbers soccer club has been trying for years to buy land for fields, but it's expensive. Last year the club entered a partnership with Bend Parks and Rec. to build several more sports fields at Pine Nursery. They are trying to raise a million dollars by the end of the year to show good faith on the first phase of the project.  

Ryan Shore is the Chairman of the Bend FC Timber's Board. "I think the biggest question is why is Park and Rec. not building these fields?" Shore told KBND News. "We think it's a great opportunity to construct our own project. We've been searching for land for five years to build fields. We think it's a positive way, a creative way, to make the tax dollars go further."

Shore says many sports are growing in popularity locally, and need fields too. "Of course we're growing," Shore says. "We're a soccer organization that has recreational and competitive programs and I think we've got 2,600 kids, athletes in our club. We've grown exponentially."

In the last few years additional sports like La Crosse, rugby and Ultimate Frisbee have also been growing. If the funds can be raised, the Bend FC Timbers soccer club hopes to see construction start in 2017.