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Department of Parks and Recreation
Reference: Review Master Plan for the Water Tower Park Turf Conversion
To: Mayor Richard N. McLean and Members of City Council
Through: Clint Blackhurst, Acting City Manager
Chontel Trujillo, Assistant City Manager Operations
Prepared By: Gary Wardle, Director Parks and Recreation
Date Prepared: August 15, 2017
PURPOSE
Review the Mater Plan for the Water Tower Park Turf Conversion.
BACKGROUND
As the City increases in population the need for youth sports fields is increasing. To accommodate the increase need for soccer fields and football fields it is recommended that the fields at Water Tower Park be converted from natural turf grass to artificial turf.
Currently soccer is being played at Donelson Park. With the amount of play, staff is not able to keep the fields in good playing condition. The turf is warn after each season. There are two seasons per year on the fields. The only rest the field get is during the winter when the grass is dormant. The only time for the turf to recover is to move the soccer games to Water Tower Park in the spring.
The turf at Water Tower Park is heavily used for football during the fall. We can rejuvenate the turf at Water Tower Park if we do not use the field for spring soccer. Currently the only way to provide safe fields is to have seasonal closure of the Donelson Park fields. This will not allow the recovery of the turf at Water Tower Park. Converting the Water Tower field to artificial turf is the only way to provide safe playing fields with the limited fields we have in the City. The artificial turf field will allow the City to extend the regular season and host end of season tournaments. This will bring additional persons into the City. The regularly scheduled games can be held during inclement weather to reduce the need of rescheduling games.
The conversion of the field to artificial turf will reduce the irrigation needs. There will still be a need for irrigation to irrigate the native turf around the fields and to irrigate the fields before play in the summer. This is to cool the fields. Mowing of the turf will be replaced by maintenance of the artificial turf.
The solution to provide safe fields is to convert the three turf fields at Water Tower Park to artificial turf fields. Attached is a master plan to convert the fields. Due to the cost of artificial turf fields the project is divided into four phases. Staff is suggesting converting one field each year for three years and the fourth year will add lights to the fields.
The turf conversion plan was presented to the youth Soccer Club and the Youth football association. Both groups support the plan and stated the will help meet the field needs.
The total cost estimate to convert all three fields and add lights to the complex is $3,230,785. The first phase cost estimate is $1,240,000. This will convert the largest field. Pending the approval of the ADCO Grant construction of the phase I project will be scheduled for spring of 2018.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The City has applied for and ADCO Grant to pay a portion of the turf conversion cost. The ADCO Grant is for $682,000. The City share of $558,000 will be budgeted in the 2018 Parks and Recreation Capital Fund.
OPTIONS FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION
1. Approve the Master Plan
2. Not approve the Master Plan
ATTACHMENTS
Water Tower Park Turf Conversion Master Plan
Cost estimate