Council: Soccer fields, again in poor shape, on Tuesday’s agenda

January 16, 2004
Santa Paula City Council

Soccer Moms and Dads are expected to attend the Jan. 20th meeting of the City Council where the deteriorating conditions and maintenance of the city’s two soccer fields will be discussed.

By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesSoccer Moms and Dads are expected to attend the Jan. 20th meeting of the City Council where the deteriorating conditions and maintenance of the city’s two soccer fields will be discussed.Soccer fields have been a hot topic in the city for several years with issues ranging from usage by out-of-town adult teams to fixing the fields themselves.During the summer of 2003 the city reconditioned the soccer fields at Las Piedras Park and Teague Park, a good news bad news situation when players were unable to practice.Now the council will discuss that the fields are again in poor condition.It wasn’t for a lack of trying, according to the staff report by Public Works Director/City Engineer Cliff Finley, whose report notes that the fields underwent an evaluation of existing soil conditions and soil sampling to determine the “best approach for reconditioning.”The soil analysis was performed by FGL in Santa Paula and Simplot, Inc. The latter is a local supplier of soil amendments and seed for athletic fields and golf courses throughout the nation.
The recommended treatment for the soccer fields including flooding, aeration of the soil and the application of 66 tons of sand, 1,500 pounds of gypsum, 375 pounds of seed, and 450 pounds of starter fertilizer.After the treatment, the fields were watered and fenced for approximately three months before being reopened to soccer play Sept. 1st.“Since September, the fields have been watered, mowed, and fertilized on a regular basis,” but after the fall season, the “fields are again in poor condition,” with the new grass almost gone from the playing areas.Finley’s report also notes that although the permanent goal standards were removed to help spread the play around, “which has helped” but is not reducing the overall wear and tear on the fields.City staff has arranged to meet with several turf maintenance companies next week to garner further input on care and maintenance.The regular council meeting - held on Tuesday due to the Martin Luther King holiday – will start at 6:30 p.m. and televised on Cable Channel 10.



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