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Pacific board revisits sand volleyball courts after silica plant offers donation, members raise safety and logistics questions
Summary
Members discussed converting two sand volleyball courts into turf courts and reviewed a silica company's offer to donate 600 yards of sand; board and staff flagged transport logistics, worker certification and health concerns about silica dust and material suitability.
The City of Pacific Park Board debated how to make two connected volleyball courts usable and affordable after past problems with contaminated sand and maintenance. The board had previously discussed filling the courts or converting them to turf, and recent developments revived the discussion: a local silica company offered to donate up to 600 yards of sand for the courts.
Why it matters: The courts have been unusable at times because of buried glass, broken bottles and other materials. Board members said replacing or properly sourcing sand would restore recreational use but raised questions about worker safety, truck access and the type of sand offered.
Details and concerns: A board member reported a prior price estimate for river sand at about $6,600 for 600 yards. "They're willing to donate all 600 yards of the sand for the volleyball courts," the city administrator said, but members cautioned that not all silica products are suitable. Shecker noted "pure silica" can be dusty and pose a long-term inhalation risk called silicosis if the material is not the appropriate beach volleyball sand. Board members discussed options including asking Brush Creek Materials for a local purchase, having the silica company load trucks if possible, or budgeting to buy sand if donation logistics proved impractical.
Logistics: Staff said single-axle dump trucks could haul material but that certification or scheduling constraints might make multiple trips necessary. Park superintendent Chris Fowler said department manpower and time are limited: "I'll handle whatever you throw at me," he said, but added staffing capacity is finite. Members also noted community preference: some volleyball players had preferred sand while other groups favored turf for maintenance reasons.
Next steps: The board asked staff to investigate whether the silica company's donation is clean beach volleyball sand or refuse material, to determine pickup and certification logistics, and to come back with cost comparisons and recommendations.
