New Lighted Turf Fields at Ben Brenman Park - Open for Play Dec. 7th at 5pm

If you have driving through Ben Brenman Park in the last couple months you have probably noticed ongoing construction work. The large field and the smaller baseball field have had artificial turf (the new kind that is more like grass) and lights installed.

We are happy to see the city make this investment as it seems to have so many benefits: 1) ability to play in foul weather 2) ability to play at night 3) reduced maintenance costs (we assume) and 4) no geese grazing and leaving behind landmines for kids to have to play on (a personal pet peeve and probably a subject for a different post) .

Playing on real grass is great, but anyone that has seen the condition of a grass field after it is used in wet conditions knows that it is nearly impossible to maintain on a year round basis. Having gone to a high school with one grass field for the entire school, I know how crummy it is to get control of the field in the spring after the football team has had it in the fall. There is no grass left and the new grass doesn't come in until you are finishing the spring semester.

One question we have for the city park staff is why field appears permanently lined for soccer? It seems the field would be in high demand almost year round given the limited amount of lighted field space in the city. Lacrosse, Field Hockey, etc. could all use this field. I hope they don't line the field permanently for multiple sports in different colors though. That just makes it confusing to players and fans alike. Hopefully the lines are not permanent and can change as the sport of the season changes. It also looks like there is no room for stands for spectators, but all in all we think this is a tremendous upgrade for the neighborhood!

You are invited to come see it for yourself on Tuesday December 7th from 5pm - 8pm.