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City and School District discuss turfing, field replacement after stadium project
Summary
City and Hillsborough School District officials described a long-standing intergovernmental agreement for shared use of facilities and said they are negotiating to replace three grass fields lost to a new stadium; turfing and multiuse design are under consideration.
City and Hillsborough School District officials reviewed a long-running intergovernmental agreement for shared use of facilities and said they are pursuing options to replace three grass fields affected by a new stadium project.
The discussion focused on the 2007 intergovernmental agreement that lets the city and district use each other’s facilities at no cost, how that arrangement reduces duplicative parks and recreation infrastructure, and current talks to find replacement sites and improve fields by installing turf.
Rahim Hajim, deputy city manager, summarized the history: “Our first IGA…was in 02/2007. The purpose of it is just to memorialize how we interact with each other.” Saeed Haggi Khushku, operations officer for Hillsborough School District, and city staff described examples of joint use at the Gordon Faber Recreation Complex, school gymnasiums and the Shark pool.
Deputy City Manager Rahim Hajim and district staff said the district committed to replacing usage lost when three softball/baseball grass fields were taken for the new stadium project. City staff said they are negotiating with the county on relocation options and are looking to not only replace but enhance those fields, including turfing to allow year-round, multiuse play for baseball, soccer, lacrosse and other sports.
Officials emphasized they want to preserve current user groups and avoid displacement while exploring funding and design choices. “Our goal has always been to not just replace the use, but find ways to enhance the use,” Rahim Hajim said.
District and city staff added that turf reduces maintenance costs and expands seasonal availability, and they are also mindful of land scarcity inside the city limits. No formal commitments or funding approvals were made during the meeting; staff said negotiations with the county and further planning are ongoing and not yet finalized.
