file photo Boyd Loving
Readers says frustrating and costly when the turf has to be cleaned and repaired after flooding the grass was worse
Agreed, it is frustrating and costly when the turf has to be cleaned and repaired after flooding. But, remember, when those fields were grass the “Stadium” was used a maximum of a dozen times a year. 5 or 6 home football games and a couple of lacrosse games. And of course graduation. The field was so bad that visiting teams threatened to file official complaints and refuse to play on the field. Stevens was a glorified parking lot and nothing took place on that field besides RHS football practice and adult softball. Both of those fields are now in constant use. RHS Varsity and sub varsity sports (Football, soccer, lacrosse,) are on them almost non-stop during the afternoons and youth sports utilize them in the evenings and weekends almost non-stop as well. The result has been much improved conditions on the grass fields in town as most of the pre-season and poor weather “days” events are conducted on the turf fields and the grass fields are closed. If you look at if from the angle of cost per use, it isn’t even close even with the repair costs. The fields are much more “productive” and we’re not spending money on seed, weed killer, fertilizer, and labor for cutting and maintaining those fields. I’m not saying it is a wash but the total cost difference probably isn’t as great as you think.
Schedler, Habernickel, and Citizens are all Village owned fields. Might be fun to try and get the Village Council to step up and spend some money on any of those fields. They haven’t spent squat on maintaining Maple Park and now that field is going to have to be replaced. They can’t even agree on the simplest things, how would they even consider spending money on new fields?
One question I would ask. What ever happened to the dredging program that was begun a couple of years ago? Was it completed? I don’t recall seeing any “work” done near Graydon or down by Stevens or RHS. Multiply 2 or 3 feet of dre
Dredging was completed down to at least the Stadium field area a couple of years ago. Seems to help with smaller events, but obvioulsy not with something like the last one
Rip up plastic turf in flood zones. Or those who want it pay for it.
Put new turf field in a non flood zone.
Let teams wait their turn. That is live in a civilized world. Am I too idealistic.
Let’s teach our children well.
All I know is that Vets being used today and the turf fields are closed
#1 – that’s the thing, that last storm wasn’t even a soaker…20 minutes of rain…..what if we get something that lasts for 2 days or so…?
Let’s see what happens after tonight’s rain.
It is interesting that Vets is being used and the turf is not.
Puting in new grass in three fields does not cost around 130 grand.
There is a type of REAL grass for playgrounds; it does not require fertilizer ask Roshler’s , I did.
With fertilizer, and a pinch of week control price waaaay under cost of turf.
And kids should learn to live with nature. A baby takes nine months. And grass takes time to grow. Live with it. Trust me; it’s the only way we can survive.
Abdoo for Village Council.