4J Stadium, Through May 1999 - Laserfiche WebLink

New Search

MEMORANDUM DATE: January 8, 1999 TO: 4 -J and City Staff Athletic Field Group FROM: John Etter, PW Parks Planning Tim Rhay, PW Parks Services Renee Grube, LRCS Athletics SUBJECT: Measure 20 -03 Athletic Field Improvements Measure 20 -03, passed on 11/3/98, included funding for the upgrading of 15 athletic fields on school grounds, which are used as part of the community's recreation resource. The fields selected have been judged to be most worthy of upgrading, based primarily on ability to increase the numbers of games by improving turf durability, but also the ability to accommodate parking associated with games, the ability to host multiple games at a given site, and geographic needs. Fields were selected from ones shown in a Kidsports Athletic Field Study by a local landscape architect. 4 -J staff have not reviewed the list; refinements in scope of work could result after 4 -J staff review. Measure 20 -03 also included $4,000,000 for two "sports parks." One site was identified as the Churchill/Kennedy School site, the other was in the Willakenzie Area, most likely the Coburg/Crescent site that consists of 4 -J and City park abutting ownership. Because of 4 -J's bond election that approved stadium funding, and because of on -going review of 4 -J's use for the Coburg /Crescent site, further consideration of the sports parks need to be coordinated with 4 -J's facility and site planning. An attached sheet lists each site, briefly what is to be improved, and the estimated time of site disruption. For those sites not part of the sports parks, we seek information from 4 -J and Bethel school districts concerning when fields are programmed for school use. Scheduling information from outside athletic coordinators (A.S.A, A. Y. S. 0., Babe Ruth Baseball and Kidsports) is already available and shown on a second attachment. The City is exploring the recent development of "synthetic turf," which offers unlimited playing time. If "synthetic turf" is considered to be cost effective, the City may be able to demonstrate the feasibility of constructing such fields, ideally with the use of non -POS bond funding. The timing of such construction could alleviate the need to relocate /reschedule games from fields during the upgrading down time. Upgraded fields will need higher levels of maintenance. The City acknowledges its responsibility for participating in that maintenance and flags the need to have discussions specific to that issue, perhaps including the other recreation providers who have assumed some maintenance activity.