Thanks to a $200,000 grant from the National Football League and the NFL Youth Football Fund, a state of the art Synthetic Turf Field has been donated to a local Washington, DC community public park.

The new synthetic turf features markings for football, soccer, and lacrosse and includes a new irrigation system accompanied with the latest safety improvements.

The new installation allows for year-round community recreational programs and is positioned as the centerpiece of a larger effort to develop the surrounding community. The introduction of an artificial turf at will create the first "public" facility of its kind in the city of Washington, DC.

Like many other municipalities, The District of Columbia Department of Parks and Recreation has committed continued support to help to fund the project and to be responsible for the ongoing maintenance of the new synthetic turf field. The grant earmarked for the synthetic turf is administered by the District of Columbia Children Youth and Investment Trust Corporation and supported with contributions from a variety of sources including the DC Department of Parks and Recreation.

Turf Marching Orders

In surrounding Virginia, the Fairfax County Department of Community and Recreation Services is responsible for scheduling more than 15 synthetic turf rectangular fields by the end of 2008. This is a very exciting time, as "waterless grass" increases available field time by reducing weather-related cancellations and extending periods of play.

The dramatic increase in available synthetic turf fields requires some changes in the local authorities’ allocation methods. "With the increase of use of the fields based on the expanding availability, many athletic field directors find themselves in need of special direction and regulations," said Bob Delozier, President of Eco Alliance Synthetic Grass, Sports Turf & Golf Scapes, headquartered in Redlands, California.

With the recommendation and endorsement of local athletic councils, maintenance managers are seeking to implement new "Synthetic Turf Field Allocation Guidelines".

The guidelines will help guide maintenance personnel in a fair and proportionate allocation of the new turf fields.

Many organizations and stake holders have already started working with industry professional organizations to ensure that as many participants (in as many sports as possible) have the opportunity to play on the new fields. As expected, there will be some changes in historical field allocations that will be impacted due to an extended year of seasonal schedules. It’s evident that the majority of new turf owners have pledged to minimize the impact of any changes.