Photo Credit: Courtesy of Paragon Sports Constructors, Ft. Worth, TX
With the identity crisis they face, multi-sport fields could spend the entire playing season on a therapist's couch. At the very least, they could wind up in a sports-medicine clinic from over-use injuries. One day, they're hosting lacrosse. Later that same day, it might be soccer or field hockey. The next time, maybe the field is used for rugby, flag football, Ultimate football, or some other sport. These fields are the multi-tasking marvels of the park system, and as such, they get plenty of use.
In past decades, most of these fields were natural grass, so within a few weeks of the season opening, the fields were skinned bare from all of the foot traffic. These days, the combination of more demands on fields, the shortage of open space, and a limited budget for regular maintenance has resulted in a gradual increase in the number of park districts choosing to install at least one synthetic field.
“Multi-purpose fields are becoming a standard fixture in many schools and public settings,” says Darby McCamy of Synthetic Turf International in Dalton, Ga. “The technological advances associated with the use of synthetic turf have allowed these fields to be used all year for multiple activities without the downtime associated with natural grass. Environmentally friendly aspects, cost efficiency, low maintenance, and the looks of these fields are also added benefits.”