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Parents and coaches urge Wilsonville to address stadium turf after reported youth injuries
Summary
Parents, coaches and a nurse told the council that recent youth football injuries at the Wilsonville High Stadium are unusually frequent and serious, including concussions and a youth hip fracture. They asked the city to consider stepping in to help replace the field or form a task force to identify funding.
Parents, coaches and healthcare professionals urged Wilsonville City Council on Feb. 20 to help address safety concerns at the Wilsonville High School stadium, citing multiple youth injuries this fall and winter and requesting the city’s assistance in replacing or repairing the playing surface.
Brad Christiansen, a community member who supports youth football, told council that the Touchdown Club and school district lack available capital now to replace the turf and that some visiting youth teams have refused to play at the stadium because of safety concerns. Christiansen requested that the city consider forming a task force to study funding options; he said one installer provided a current estimate of about $500,000 to replace the turf.
Nurse and parent Hillary Townsend described several recent injuries she treated as the safety coordinator at youth games, including multiple concussions and a case she characterized as an acetabular (hip) fracture with dislocation in a youth player. Townsend said the injury pattern and severity—unusually high for youth play—warrants immediate attention.
Other parents and coaches reported ambulances being called during youth games and said the condition of the turf increases risk compared with other fields in the area. Brent Aratola and other speakers noted that families with resources can transfer their children to private schools or programs to avoid the risk, while lower-income families lack that option, potentially creating an equity gap.
What they asked: speakers urged the council to consider helping the school district and parks partners identify funding and to create a task force to explore replacement timing and financing, rather than waiting for a future bond. No council motion or formal direction was recorded during the meeting; the city manager did not propose action at the Feb. 20 meeting but councilors and staff acknowledged the request and encouraged formal follow-up.
Ending: Council members heard the testimony and asked staff to accept submitted materials; the public record will inform any future city engagement or requests to the school district or partners about field replacement.
