How an Oregon Community Looks to Artificial Turf to Provide Year-Round Play
In Bend, Oregon, local baseball and softball coaches are pushing for upgrades to the facilities at the Bend-La Pine School District.
In Bend, Oregon, local baseball and softball coaches are pushing for upgrades to the facilities at the Bend-La Pine School District. They mention concerns around the rising costs of field upkeep and the impact adverse weather conditions have on accessibility and safety.
As the district irons out its Capital Improvement Plan, coaches and administrators are pushing for a move to artificial turf. Paul Dean, the Chief Operating Officer for Bend-La Pine Schools, outlined why in a KTVZ interview.
“We would really love to have turf for baseball and softball programs here in our town," said Dean. "For No. 1, during our spring months, where things are really rainy, it would make things a whole lot easier to have teams be able to access those fields. Also, our coaches spend dozens, if not hundreds of hours maintaining those, and having turf fields would reduce the maintenance demands on our coaching staff. And it also provides a consistent playing surface. Anyone that's had a ground ball hit them in the face knows what a bad hop is, and the impacts of it.”
Little League games around the town were cancelled on Monday due to poor field conditions. As Dean pointed out, coaches and teams often take on the difficult responsibility of shaping up the field to make sure it’s in playable condition. Last-second maintenance is costly, with one local coach telling KTVZ they spent over $20,000 on field maintenance in one season alone.
No one wants to arrive at the field for a game or practice and see an unplayable field. Turf offers 10x more utilization and provides notable long-term cost benefits.
Recycled Rubber News
Board OKs artificial turf field at Cornell (607 News Now): The Town of Ithaca’s Planning Board approved a project to install synthetic turf at Cornell University. The field will be used for the school’s field hockey team.
Artificial turf making its way to TF North (Lansing Journal): Thornton Fractional North High School in Lansing, Illinois, will have a new turf field this year, intended for use by the school’s football, soccer, and track and field teams. “Our grass side practice field takes a beating throughout the season,” coach Anthony Pignatiello said. “The ability to avoid sloppy field conditions (for practice as well as games) is nice.”
Tippecanoe County to partner with Corn Country CrossFit for tire recycling event (Lafayette Journal and Courier): Tippecanoe County in Indiana will host tire recycling events this year and next in partnership with a local CrossFit gym. The event is an opportunity for residents to drop off used tires so they can be recycled, instead of going to landfills.
What We’re Reading
Final Thoughts
Coming up on Monday: The latest BPI blog! This one looks at 10 parks and playgrounds around the country that use recycled rubber to promote year-round accessibility. The list features synthetic turf fields that stay open all year for sports, as well as playgrounds with rubber surfacing designed to provide a soft landing spot for kids of all ages and abilities. Check back next week to check that out.
Plus, keep an eye on the BPI LinkedIn page for the latest on the world of sustainable play. Our latest post highlights the Norwegian soccer club, Bodø/Glimt, which competes north of the Arctic Circle, but endures the harsh weather conditions through the use of artificial turf.
Thanks for reading, and make sure to leave your thoughts in the comments!
Have any questions or are interested in getting involved? Reach out at media@betterplaytoday.org.
