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Aberdeen council approves artificial turf for Pioneer Park Field 3 after tie; mayor breaks tie
Summary
Council approved a plan tied to a $500,000 RCO grant to install artificial turf at Pioneer Park Field 3, certifying a required 10% local match. The decision followed debate about environmental concerns and removal costs and a 6-6 tie that the mayor broke in favor of the project.
After extended debate about environmental impacts and lifecycle costs, Aberdeen City Council voted on April 23 to move forward with an artificial turf project for Pioneer Park Field 3 tied to a Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) grant.
Parks staff, represented in the meeting by Director Barnum, said the city applied for a $500,000 RCO grant for the project and that a required 10% applicant match would be $50,000; staff reported roughly $35,000 in identified grants and donations toward that match and said they expected to identify the remaining $15,000 without using the city general fund. Council later approved a separate resolution (Resolution 2025-06) authorizing the mayor to certify the applicant match required by RCO for project number 241711.
Councilmembers voiced concerns about artificial turf materials. One councilmember cited studies and expressed worry about microplastics, phthalates and leaching near waterways; another asked that staff include removal costs and product lifespan in procurement documents. Supporters said local youth-sports groups had repeatedly requested turf because natural fields experience frequent rainouts; the meeting record lists Aberdeen High School, Grays Harbor College, Aberdeen Little League, Harbor Youth Soccer and Aberdeen Girls Softball Association as stakeholders that have asked for turf.
The vote to approve the turf motion resulted in a 6-6 tie on the council roll call (Ellis — No; Ramsey — No; Bacon — No; Hodgkin — No; Hubbard — Yes; Lawrence — No; Mackey — Yes; Northam — No; Verchini — Yes; Fredo — Yes; Thor — Yes; Taylor — Yes). Mayor Doug Orr broke the tie in favor of the motion; the mayor indicated assent and the chair declared the motion passed. The council then approved Resolution 2025-06, certifying the required match for the RCO grant; meeting minutes record two votes against that resolution but do not list the dissenting names.
Councilmembers asked staff to ensure specifications address environmental compliance and disposal/removal costs during procurement; staff and other speakers noted that similar installations at nearby municipalities were in compliance with state environmental requirements. No final contract award for turf installation was signed at the meeting; staff were authorized to proceed with required certifications and to continue procurement steps within that authorization.
The council also approved related public-works and parks contracts in the same meeting: an amendment with Gray & Osborne to complete design and bidding support for water tanks, and award of the Third Avenue slide repair construction contract to Roblinson Corp., contingent on FEMA concurrence.
