New artificial turf field – Courtesy: Commissioner Rich Walker
By Jill Fox
When COVID-19 restrictions are removed, the fields at Pine Trails Park will be ready for Parkland athletes.
The crushed rubber is spread on the turf to simulate dirt on a grass field. Courtesy: Todd Link.
Typically, the city performs maintenance over the summer, however, with the stay-at-home orders, they were able to get materials and a crew much faster than usual, according to City Commissioner Rich Walker.
With a high price tag of $1,053,896.82 for two artificial turf fields, the routine maintenance, which is typically completed every ten years, was overdue.
The FieldTurf, made of polyethylene fibers, with sand and rubber particles between them, gives the athletes shock absorption and natural footing. In addition to withstanding rain much better than the grass fields at Pine Trails Park, the artificial turf provides a “near-perfect surface” for years, with minimal maintenance.
On April 29, most City of Parkland parks re-opened with limited activity for passive use, but the athletic fields currently remain closed.
“By doing it now, we were able to get it done way ahead of schedule,” said Walker, who added that with the cancellations of local camps, there will now be an opportunity for residents to use them right away.
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