Photo Credit: Courtesy of Centerville-Washington Park District
“Rain! Rain! Go away! Please come back another day!” Unfortunately, Mother Nature does not always listen, especially in April and May in Ohio. But when the rains do come (usually in buckets), it is important to protect young athletes, the fields, and the organization’s wallet with an effective “Field Closure Policy.”
Home-Field Advantage
Entering my fifth season at the Centerville-Washington Park District (CWPD) in Centerville, Ohio, I have become very familiar with closing fields through our own policy and program. In the late 1990s, the CWPD passed a levy that allowed us to do a major renovation of Schoolhouse Park. Schoolhouse is a 35-acre park on the south side of town. After the $2-million renovation that included parking lots, concession stands, restrooms, and a new field for Centerville Wee Elks Football, the program finally had a proper field to call home … for at least a minute. After one season of uncontrolled practices, scrimmages, and games in all sorts of weather conditions, the gem of a field was reduced to a flattened, unrecognizable mud pit.
Protective Mode
No amount of maintenance and time could repair the damage and abuse that was administered to the field on a daily basis. The park district then decided—along with some practical practice-location solutions—to implement a “Field Closure Policy.” The policy gave sole control of field usage to CWPD and the ability to close certain sports fields that were deemed unsafe for players. This policy was also instrumental in saving the park district money in maintenance and repair costs. Many of you are probably shaking your heads, wondering how a field in a public park can be closed. Granted, not everyone will always follow the rules, but with a well-outlined policy, fields can win in the battle against wear and tear.