Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks And Recreation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Staff recommends artificial turf for Whitesville Road soccer complex to reduce long‑term costs
Summary
Staff recommended installing artificial turf on all three playing fields at Whitesville Road to increase usage and reduce maintenance, citing a lifecycle maintenance savings argument; bids ranged from natural-grass low bids to $2.5 million for full artificial, with geotech fabric ($60,000) and netting ($125,000–$155,000) noted as add-ons.
Jay Anderson and Parks staff reviewed bid results and recommended installing artificial turf on all three Whitesville Road soccer fields. Staff said bids ranged from roughly $1.0 million (natural/combination options) up to $2.5 million for all‑artificial configurations; a geotechnical fabric that staff described as necessary to ensure durability was quoted at about $60,000 and perimeter sod another $74,052. Anderson said artificial turf would increase usability year‑round and reduce long‑term maintenance, while commissioners and several citizens raised concerns about UV deterioration, concentrated wear if only one or two fields are artificial, and the financial tradeoffs of mixed configurations.
Anderson summarized the lifecycle case for artificial fields and provided options that included a heavier 52‑ounce turf with a small price premium over a lighter product; he also presented two netting cost estimates (about $125,000 to $155,000) to protect parking and adjacent streets. “Our ultimate recommendation would be to go with all 3 fields artificial,” Anderson said; commissioners asked staff to add netting and landscaping quotes into the spreadsheet and return a consolidated total on the evening agenda so the board can vote on the sports turf package.
