Kalispell considers artificial turf for Legends Stadium

By HILARY MATHESON

Daily Inter Lake

A public-comment period on the proposed use of synthetic turf in upgrading the field at Legends Stadium is underway through Feb. 10.

The Kalispell School Board on Tuesday decided additional input should be gleaned from the public before making a decision. During the board meeting Flathead and Glacier high school activity directors Bryce Wilson and Mark Dennehy presented the advantages and disadvantages of synthetic versus natural turf and highlighted some of the questions board trustees may be asked by taxpayers.

The goal of using artificial turf would be to increase the number and type of sporting events held at the field because of the more predictable surface quality.

In the meantime, trustees gave the green light to move forward with geotechnical sampling and testing of the field surface.

The proposal to use artificial over natural turf comes from a 12-member committee made up of administrators, coaches, athletic trainers, doctors, a trustee and community member.

The field is slated for a near $1 million major overhaul, which hasn’t been done since 2000, according to Dennehy. Approximately $958,100 is earmarked from a $28.8 million high school district bond issue to upgrade Legends Field, located at 1230 Second Ave. W.

“We took this project on in 2000 and we are here today kind of picking up the last piece of the facility and the last piece is the field itself,” Dennehy said. “The crown of the field has probably grown five or six inches in that period.”

The current field is natural grass, which has posed challenges in quality and surface over the years not only due to usage but also weather, combined with poor drainage that has resulted in muddy, potholed fields.

“The crosstown game was a complete mess with the rain,” Dennehy said.

Wilson and Dennehy outlined some of the research committee members have done on synthetic and natural turf, including number of injuries, costs, longevity and maintenance.

Dennehy said the No. 1 question trustees will face in the synthetic-versus-natural turf debate is about injuries. Wilson said his conclusion from reading numerous studies is that there appears to be a negligible differing in number of injuries.

A second likely concern the athletic directors addressed is whether regular exposure to the materials of the synthetic turf and infill are harmful. Infill is typically made of “crumb rubber,” basically recycled tires, and spread out between the synthetic grass fibers to provide softness or firmness. Concerns have been raised in the media about whether crumb rubber is carcinogenic. The athletic directors said there are also alternatives to crumb rubber. Some examples are “Nike grind,” made from recycled athletic shoes, cork, ground coconut fibers, coated rubber, cork or sand.

“The statement we put here as it relates to exposure of rubber infill studies shows there is no documented studies that link cancer to infill,” Dennehy said.

The amount of heat a synthetic field would absorb and give off may also be a concern, but Wilson said most events occur in the evening.

Maintenance and replacement would still be required on a synthetic field.

“It’s not OK to roll it out and come back in 10 years,” Wilson said, noting that recommended maintenance is “sweeping” the field monthly with special equipment to maintain consistency of the infill. Replenishing the infill would be done every three to four years.

Dennehy added, “Butte just did their field; it cost about $700,000 give or take. In terms of replacement, it will be about every 10 to 12 years. Billings replaced their artificial turf and it was about $300,000.”

To redo the field in natural turf and repair the drainage system would cost roughly $550,000, Dennehy said.

Billings, Butte and Missoula all play football and soccer on artificial turf. Great Falls is slated to install it this year.

With the upgrades, Dennehy and Wilson anticipate the pole-vault runways will need to be relocated on the south end of the complex, which will provide additional space for a regulation soccer field. Other improvements to the stadium include updating the officials’ locker room and expanding bleachers.

The PowerPoint presentation is available online at http://www.sd5.k12.mt.us. A binder with the information is located at the district central office on 233 First Ave. E.

Comments may be mailed, emailed or faxed. Address comments to Beth Kornick, administrative assistant to the superintendent, Kalispell Public Schools, 233 First Ave. E. Kalispell, MT 59901. Email comments to kornickb@sd5l.k12.mt.us or fax to 406-751-3416

For more information call Kornick at 406-751-3434.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.