[RP TownTalk] turf field

Fri Jun 15 14:09:15 UTC 2007

> How much does it cost to adequately prepare the soil, and reseed the field with grass > every year? $750,000 over 15 years? That's $50,000 per year!  It seems to me like
> there's a lot of maintenance you could do for that price.

For some perspective: the Prince George's side of MNCPPC has an annual
budget of $200 million.

R

On 6/15/07, Alan Thompson and Sarah Wayland <twacks at his.com> wrote:
>
> [Sarah here, speaking only for myself.]
>
> I agree completely regarding the permitting and the lights - is the idea to
> convert our park into a professional sports complex? I feel like that's
> where we are heading....
>
> When I go to the park on weekends, I often see families playing pick up
> soccer on the field. The Town has has a sign posted at the Field of Dreams
> saying that a permit is required to use the park, which means no one uses it
> any more.  Now we are planning to take this other place for pick up soccer
> away? It makes me sad. When you take away places for fun constructive
> activities away, what are people left to do? Not everyone can join a league,
> and pay fees to rent space at a park...
>
>
> I also do not like artificial turf. Why don't we just put a bunch of asphalt
> down on the field? It has the same environmental costs - including taking
> away permeable surfaces, generating heat (150 degrees??), etc.
>
> How much does it cost to adequately prepare the soil, and reseed the field
> with grass every year? $750,000 over 15 years? That's $50,000 per year!  It
> seems to me like there's a lot of maintenance you could do for that price.
>
> As some of you know, I am also not a fan of artificial light. If I lived
> near that park, I would find those blinding halogen lights unbearable. We
> have enough light pollution in this area - I miss seeing the stars at night.
> My children don't even know what a constellation is - we can only see the
> stars when we go on vacation. I would hate to see our park contributing to
> that problem.
>
> Just my 2 cents....
>
> -Sarah Wayland
>  4711 Sheridan Street
>
>
>
> On Jun 15, 2007, at 8:19 AM, Regina M. Kreger wrote:
>  I like lights, I like maintenance, and I like all that phase 2
> not-yet-budgeted stuff ... but I don't like fake turf, and I really don't
> like requiring permits and excluding pick-up games. Fake turf is painful for
> soccer players, unlike football and baseball players their knees are
> uncovered. If someone can be deployed to lock and unlock the gate for
> permitted groups, why can't someone be deployed to water the natural grass
> every now and then?
>
>  Actually, even lights I'm not so sure about. They change it from a peaceful
> little slice of nature into a sports facility. Sports-field lights can be
> really, really obnoxious, very big and very bright. 55-ft lightpoles? Yech,
> I wouldn't want to live near it.
>
>  I think an artificial-turf, lighted, controlled-access sports field with
> enough parking for a crowd is out of place in our peaceful park.
>
>  Lisa Grob wrote:
>
>
>
> Is it difficult to get a permit? Will this eliminate use of the space for
> pick up games?
>
>
>
> Lisa
>
>  ________________________________
>
>
> From: towntalk-bounces at riverdale-park.org
> [mailto:towntalk-bounces at riverdale-park.org] On Behalf Of
> bruce.wernek at mindspring.com
>  Sent: Friday, June 15, 2007 7:36 AM
>  To: Kate Sharpe; TownTalk
>  Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] turf field
>
>
>
>
> Kate
>
>
>
>
>
> Thanks for the info.
>
>
>
>
>
> I would like to ask our Riverdale residents what they envision for the
> park.  Right now there a baseball field that's off limits unless you have a
> permit, a couple of tennis courts which are accessible by all, and
> a possible turf field which will also require a permit not to mention the
> lights.  During the school year and late summer the future turf field and
> baseball field are used by Dematha and other sports organizations.  They
> will/are also be off limits for our residents without a permit.  What I
> would like to know is where an I going to have a picnic, setup the volley
> ball net, or have a cookout.
>
>
>
>
>
> It's simply a question of your definition of a park.  When I was growing up
> it was a place for family gatherings, badminton, volleyball, and playtime
> for the kids.  Today, its become more and more about sports.  These sports
> fields take up a large portion of the park (~30%) and are used by primarily
> non Riverdale residents.  Now there is a "proposal" on the table to section
> off another large portion of the park for sports organizations.  What's
> going to be left for us?
>
>
>
>
>
> Bruce
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
>  From: Kate Sharpe
>  Sent: Jun 14, 2007 10:44 PM
>  To: TownTalk
>  Subject: [RP TownTalk] turf field
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Dear Town Talkers,
>
>
>
> Last night I attended the community meeting about the proposed turf field at
> the Riverdale Community Park.  The proposed turf field would replace a worn
> out football/soccer field that is consistently in poor condition.  Players
> using the current field run on hard packed dirt (bad for the joints) and
> breathe substantial amounts of dust.
>
>
>
> Parks and Recreation has budgeted $750,000 for an artificial turf field, and
> an additional $300,000 for possible lighting, a tree buffer between the
> field and the neighborhood, moving the basketball court to a new location,
> and 23 additional parking spaces.  The county would also like to redo play
> areas, and add new restrooms and picnic shelters in a later phase that has
> not yet been budgeted.
>
>
>
> Some points to consider:
>
> The proposed turf field would have a life span of approximately 15 years.
>  Similar fields are in use in Montgomery and Fairfax Counties, and at
> Georgetown University.
> If the county constructs the field, they would fence it (undetermined
> height), and require a permit for use.
> Permits would be granted according to a prioritized list.  The Boys and
> Girls Club has the highest priority.
> DeMatha would continue to use the field for lacrosse practice/games, and
> football practice.  Their use of the field would not increase, according to
> the county and DeMatha's athletic director.
> The field would not be useable during the day on very hot summer days,
> because the artificial turf can reach temperatures of nearly 150 degrees.
> The proposed lighting would be placed on 55-ft poles (the trees surrounding
> the field are approx. 65 feet high).  The county would utilize newer light
> control technology that increases useable light on the playing surface while
> decreasing spillover light and glare.  A new tree buffer would also be
> added.
> The lights would be turned on when the field was actually in use, and would
> be turned off by 10 p.m.
> Lighting would allow greater use of the field, especially in the fall.
> However, the field could be constructed without adding lighting.
> The county is working with the MD Dept. of Environmental Resources to
> mitigate potential floodplain impacts.
>
> The Parks and Recreation proposal was first presented at Riverdale Park's
> April Legislative meeting.  The Town Council will be discussing the proposal
> further at our June 18th Work Session.  I welcome your comments and opinions
> about the proposal.  Feel free to contact me on or off list (301-779-2169).
>
>
>
> Kate Sharpe
>
> Councilwoman, Ward Two
>
>
>  ________________________________
>
>
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