Artificial turf is on the wish lists for a number of Central Alberta athletic organizations looking to extend the seasons of sports fields.
With that in mind, the cities of Red Deer and Lacombe have joined forces to bring in some artificial turf experts to lay out the options and what is involved in maintaining the latest high-tech grass alternatives.
The Business of Artificial Turf event takes place at Red Deer’s north Holiday Inn on Thursday, at 6500 67th St., and runs from 4:30 to 9 p.m.
A community-led group behind the Lacombe Athletic Park plans to add an artificial turf field to that new facility next year as part of the third phase of a $3.9-million project. The group has appealed to local supporters to donate materials and labour to prepare the site in return for charitable receipts and public recognition at the park.
In Red Deer, an artificial field is further off. The city’s capital budget doesn’t slot in an all-weather sports field at Great Chief Park until at least 2018, said Deb Comfort, the city’s neighbourhood facilities and community development supervisor.
Comfort said although a field falls into long-range plans for the city, she knows that there are local sports organizations interested in the idea.
That’s why the two cities decided to work together to bring in Calgary-based consultants Benchmark Properties Ltd. The company, which Comfort and her Lacombe counterpart saw at a recreational conference, will provide an objective overview, she said.
“They’re not a representative for any particular turf company,” she said. “Their interest is really more around the planning for and the operation of turf.”
Comfort said doesn’t know if local groups are considering following the Lacombe Athletic Park Association’s community-led approach to shorten the time lines for an artificial field, but she felt it was worthwhile to help provide some background.
“It was just an opportunity, I thought, to let the community and whoever might be interested in pursuing that at least get some information at the front end.”
The $3,000 cost of the event will be shared between the two cities based on local attendance. A light supper is included and those attending are asked to RSVP to sharon.stewart@reddeer.ca or call 403-309-8417.
pcowley@www.reddeeradvocate.com