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City by the Lake.org, The Voice of Michigan City, Indiana _ City Talk _ Proposal to Install Synthetic Turf at Ames Field
Posted by: eric.hanke May 9 2009, 08:20 AM
Just read the May 12 MCAS Board Meeting Agenda.
Synthetic Turf at Ames Field??? Are you kidding me?
http://mcasnow.mcas.k12.in.us:81/school-board/board-agenda/Board%20Agenda%20May%2012%2C%202009.pdf
Posted by: IndyTransplant May 9 2009, 09:42 AM
QUOTE(eric.hanke @ May 9 2009, 09:20 AM) 
Just read the May 12 MCAS Board Meeting Agenda.
Synthetic Turf at Ames Field??? Are you kidding me?
http://mcasnow.mcas.k12.in.us:81/school-board/board-agenda/Board%20Agenda%20May%2012%2C%202009.pdf
Synthetic Turf at Ames Field??? Are you kidding me?
http://mcasnow.mcas.k12.in.us:81/school-board/board-agenda/Board%20Agenda%20May%2012%2C%202009.pdf
Ridiculous......surely it will not pass.
Posted by: southsider2k9 May 9 2009, 03:20 PM
Most of those have been proven to cause more injuries than regular grass. I don't like the idea at all. They are trying to save money at the expense of safety.
Posted by: Brian May 9 2009, 10:23 PM
QUOTE(southsider2k9 @ May 9 2009, 04:20 PM)
Most of those have been proven to cause more injuries than regular grass. I don't like the idea at all. They are trying to save money at the expense of safety.
Is this the same material that was recently installed at Valpo H.S. within the last year? I coached a Pop Warner Game there back in October and it was really nice, if we are talking about the same type of arificial turf.
Posted by: Ang May 10 2009, 01:01 AM
Well, that stuff they use for arena football is very slick. I went to a Wyoming Cavalry game Friday and those poor boys were sliding all over the place!
Posted by: mcstumper May 12 2009, 09:33 PM
IU tried to go with grass a few years back but it always ended up more mud than sod by the end of the season. They had to go back to artifical turf, but what they laid down was vastly improved over the old astroturf surface.
Posted by: CaddyRich May 12 2009, 11:26 PM
A reporter once asked pitcher Tug McGraw if he preferred natural grass over artificial turf. He replied, "I don't know, I've never smoked turf..."
Posted by: eric.hanke May 13 2009, 06:04 AM
The MCAS Board of School Trustees in a 6-0 vote, Dr Jones was not present, approved the proposal for ~$700k.
According to MCHS Athletic Director Falls the new "turf" has come a long way and will prevent injuries. LaPorte and Michigan City are the only two school districts in the DAC who do not have a synthetic field.
We currently spend ~$40k annually on the grass at Ames Field. MCAS Director of Plant Planning Dave Williamson stated we fertilize the field 3 times a month, cut the grass 3 times a week, and water the field twice daily with sprinklers that distribute 50GPM.
The new field material proposal included a machine that can “groom” and sanitize the field monthly or as needed.
Posted by: Ang May 13 2009, 08:47 AM
Well, I suppose that's a good thing really, after giving it some thought. I know many of you know I was the Athletic Secretary at MCHS. Well, before that I was the Plant Planning Director's secretary. (Dave Williamson is a great guy BTW and I'm glad he finally got the director position--he started out as a custodian!).
A lot of people don't realize what a jewel Ames Field is in the athletic community. It has been featured in magazines, and is used several times for stretching and running by college teams travelling to South Bend to play Notre Dame. (I have personally met the coaching staff from USC--very nice guys).
So, again after giving it some thought, I think this is a good move for MCAS. It will free up many man hours spent on the field, which will allow for more time spent at the schools. In the long run, they will save money. And they will never have to worry about the embarassment of a brown patchy field--especially as high profile as it is.
I give it two thumbs up!
(Hey MCBorn--you should do a feature on Ames and all that stuff I just said!)
Posted by: MC Born & Raised May 13 2009, 01:08 PM
QUOTE(Ang @ May 13 2009, 09:47 AM)
Well, I suppose that's a good thing really, after giving it some thought. I know many of you know I was the Athletic Secretary at MCHS. Well, before that I was the Plant Planning Director's secretary. (Dave Williamson is a great guy BTW and I'm glad he finally got the director position--he started out as a custodian!).
A lot of people don't realize what a jewel Ames Field is in the athletic community. It has been featured in magazines, and is used several times for stretching and running by college teams travelling to South Bend to play Notre Dame. (I have personally met the coaching staff from USC--very nice guys).
So, again after giving it some thought, I think this is a good move for MCAS. It will free up many man hours spent on the field, which will allow for more time spent at the schools. In the long run, they will save money. And they will never have to worry about the embarassment of a brown patchy field--especially as high profile as it is.
I give it two thumbs up!
(Hey MCBorn--you should do a feature on Ames and all that stuff I just said!)
Your wish is my command. ;-)
But seriously, this is a no-brainer. I know people see the initial price tag and are flabbergasted at spending 3/4 of a million dollars on new turf, but it's a necessary expenditure. It'll save money in the long run, but being at least slightly ahead of the curve on something like this should serve as a point of pride for the community. If you want to be the best, you have to act like the best. I've definitely had my issues with MCAS and the board, but kudos on this move. If anything, you'll make money over a period of about 15 years all while playing on a superior surface with a lessened risk of injury.
Posted by: Ang May 13 2009, 01:38 PM
QUOTE(MC Born & Raised @ May 13 2009, 01:08 PM)
Your wish is my command. ;-)
Posted by: southsider2k9 May 14 2009, 07:43 AM
http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=23166&TM=39809.22
QUOTE
A facelift for Ames Field
Synthetic turf will replace grass, and work begins Thursday
Adam Parkhouse
Sports Editor, The News-Dispatch
MICHIGAN CITY - Already considered one of the top high school football facilities in the area, Ames Field is getting a brand new look.
At Tuesday's meeting of the Michigan City Area Schools Board, a contract with Hellas Construction of Austin, Texas, to install synthetic turf at Ames was unanimously approved.
"If you're gonna have a successful athletic program, then your facilities have gotta move up," Michigan City High School athletic director Bob "Bear" Falls said.
The total cost of the project, which will begin Thursday and wrap up by July 1, is $718,396. According to Shamus Petrucelli, regional sales representative for Hellas, the turf has an expected life span of 13 to 15 years.
"Quite naturally, that's a lot of money," Falls said. "But trying to run a program without putting money in is a very difficult thing.
"Our kids deserve to play on the very best we can offer."
Dave Williamson, director of Plant Planning, estimated the annual cost of maintaining the surface of Ames Field at $53,000 a year. That includes an estimated $28,000 a year for fertilizers, chemicals and fungicides; about $10,000 per year to water the fields; and another $15,000 for labor.
Not counted in that total would be the cost of resodding Ames. That, according to Williamson, is recommended to be done every five or six years at a cost of $75,000. However, in Ames Field's 14-year history, it's never been resodded. According to football coach Craig Buzea, that wear and tear was evident.
"I had officiating crews tell me before games that the field could be declared unplayable," Buzea said.
Ames Field's turf had its share of problems over the years. Four years ago, a fungus attached to the field, causing massive brown blotches, some 20 or 30 yards wide.
"I think it's the right thing to do," Buzea said. "There's a reason NFL teams, colleges and high schools are doing it.
"For the board to have the foresight to do this is awesome."
City will be the fifth school in the Duneland Conference to install a synthetic turf. Merrillville, Portage, Valparaiso and Crown Point all have some version of it. It's rumored that Chesterton and Lake Central also have it in the works.
At Portage, according to athletic director Jeff Smith, the cost of the project was $900,000, but that initial cost will be absorbed if the school gets 20 years of play out of the surface, as it expects to get.
"I think it's invaluable on a variety of levels," Smith said. "Just with the weather in Northwest Indiana, you get one rainout or monsoon rain and it tears the field up for the rest of the season.
"So from that standpoint, we've never lost a game to a rainout or field conditions."
Buzea was the football coach at Portage when the turf was installed.
"As soon as we got it in, it was the pride of the community," Buzea said.
In addition, Smith said the synthetic turf has created new revenue streams. For instance, Valparaiso University has had to rent the field on occasion when its soccer field has been unplayable. The school also rents the facility to the local Pop Warner Football program.
Those are all new possibilities for Ames Field, as well, according to Falls, although he doesn't foresee soccer being played at Ames during the upcoming fall season.
Hellas Construction (hellasconstruction.com) is the company that is installing its brand of synthetic turf at the Dallas Cowboys' new stadium. Hellas' product is called Fusion, not to be confused with similar products such as FieldTurf.
Part of the contract is the work must be completed by July 1 in advance of the annual Drum & Bugle DCI competition July 3. Petrucelli said there will be noticeable activity at Ames starting Thursday.
Contact Sports Editor Adam Parkhouse at aparkhouse@thenewsdispatch.com or 874-7211, Ext. 461.
Synthetic turf will replace grass, and work begins Thursday
Adam Parkhouse
Sports Editor, The News-Dispatch
MICHIGAN CITY - Already considered one of the top high school football facilities in the area, Ames Field is getting a brand new look.
At Tuesday's meeting of the Michigan City Area Schools Board, a contract with Hellas Construction of Austin, Texas, to install synthetic turf at Ames was unanimously approved.
"If you're gonna have a successful athletic program, then your facilities have gotta move up," Michigan City High School athletic director Bob "Bear" Falls said.
The total cost of the project, which will begin Thursday and wrap up by July 1, is $718,396. According to Shamus Petrucelli, regional sales representative for Hellas, the turf has an expected life span of 13 to 15 years.
"Quite naturally, that's a lot of money," Falls said. "But trying to run a program without putting money in is a very difficult thing.
"Our kids deserve to play on the very best we can offer."
Dave Williamson, director of Plant Planning, estimated the annual cost of maintaining the surface of Ames Field at $53,000 a year. That includes an estimated $28,000 a year for fertilizers, chemicals and fungicides; about $10,000 per year to water the fields; and another $15,000 for labor.
Not counted in that total would be the cost of resodding Ames. That, according to Williamson, is recommended to be done every five or six years at a cost of $75,000. However, in Ames Field's 14-year history, it's never been resodded. According to football coach Craig Buzea, that wear and tear was evident.
"I had officiating crews tell me before games that the field could be declared unplayable," Buzea said.
Ames Field's turf had its share of problems over the years. Four years ago, a fungus attached to the field, causing massive brown blotches, some 20 or 30 yards wide.
"I think it's the right thing to do," Buzea said. "There's a reason NFL teams, colleges and high schools are doing it.
"For the board to have the foresight to do this is awesome."
City will be the fifth school in the Duneland Conference to install a synthetic turf. Merrillville, Portage, Valparaiso and Crown Point all have some version of it. It's rumored that Chesterton and Lake Central also have it in the works.
At Portage, according to athletic director Jeff Smith, the cost of the project was $900,000, but that initial cost will be absorbed if the school gets 20 years of play out of the surface, as it expects to get.
"I think it's invaluable on a variety of levels," Smith said. "Just with the weather in Northwest Indiana, you get one rainout or monsoon rain and it tears the field up for the rest of the season.
"So from that standpoint, we've never lost a game to a rainout or field conditions."
Buzea was the football coach at Portage when the turf was installed.
"As soon as we got it in, it was the pride of the community," Buzea said.
In addition, Smith said the synthetic turf has created new revenue streams. For instance, Valparaiso University has had to rent the field on occasion when its soccer field has been unplayable. The school also rents the facility to the local Pop Warner Football program.
Those are all new possibilities for Ames Field, as well, according to Falls, although he doesn't foresee soccer being played at Ames during the upcoming fall season.
Hellas Construction (hellasconstruction.com) is the company that is installing its brand of synthetic turf at the Dallas Cowboys' new stadium. Hellas' product is called Fusion, not to be confused with similar products such as FieldTurf.
Part of the contract is the work must be completed by July 1 in advance of the annual Drum & Bugle DCI competition July 3. Petrucelli said there will be noticeable activity at Ames starting Thursday.
Contact Sports Editor Adam Parkhouse at aparkhouse@thenewsdispatch.com or 874-7211, Ext. 461.
Posted by: southsider2k9 May 15 2009, 01:47 PM
http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?SectionID=50&SubSectionID=75&ArticleID=23232&TM=56680.22
QUOTE
No time to spend money on turf
I found myself astounded while reading Adam Parkhouse's article "A facelift for Ames Field" [Wednesday]. We are in the midst of a serious economic recession, the worst in decades; people who work in the major industries that supply jobs and support our region are facing major cut backs and lay offs; and we are investing three quarters of a million dollars for new turf at Ames Field?
The economic issues we are facing are only one reason that this project is unimaginable; another is the quality of education these students are receiving. While the article went into detail about our need to compete with other schools in our district, it never mentioned where these funds were coming from, leaving the story hopelessly incomplete.
Indiana's public school system has been at the bottom of the nation for many years, and this year's results were no exception. While sports are certainly a great bonus for students, they are far from the most important part of the high school experience. Instead of spending more than $700,000 on turf, maybe MCAS could invest in the curriculum, additional education for teachers, improved educational materials, and raises for hard working, under-paid teachers.
We should not be rewarding a failing school system by investing in extracurricular activities when there is so much work that needs to be done to ensure that the students graduating from the school are actually ready for college. We aren't doing those students any favors by giving them nicer grass to play on if they are hopelessly unprepared for college and life outside high school.
It is unthinkable to spend this kind of money on something non-essential when we have so much work to do creating a school system that serves our children. What an embarrassment.
Emily Saxon Kysel
Indianapolis
I found myself astounded while reading Adam Parkhouse's article "A facelift for Ames Field" [Wednesday]. We are in the midst of a serious economic recession, the worst in decades; people who work in the major industries that supply jobs and support our region are facing major cut backs and lay offs; and we are investing three quarters of a million dollars for new turf at Ames Field?
The economic issues we are facing are only one reason that this project is unimaginable; another is the quality of education these students are receiving. While the article went into detail about our need to compete with other schools in our district, it never mentioned where these funds were coming from, leaving the story hopelessly incomplete.
Indiana's public school system has been at the bottom of the nation for many years, and this year's results were no exception. While sports are certainly a great bonus for students, they are far from the most important part of the high school experience. Instead of spending more than $700,000 on turf, maybe MCAS could invest in the curriculum, additional education for teachers, improved educational materials, and raises for hard working, under-paid teachers.
We should not be rewarding a failing school system by investing in extracurricular activities when there is so much work that needs to be done to ensure that the students graduating from the school are actually ready for college. We aren't doing those students any favors by giving them nicer grass to play on if they are hopelessly unprepared for college and life outside high school.
It is unthinkable to spend this kind of money on something non-essential when we have so much work to do creating a school system that serves our children. What an embarrassment.
Emily Saxon Kysel
Indianapolis
Posted by: Ang May 15 2009, 01:55 PM
Ok. This lady lives in Indianapolis. I'm sorry, but her opinion is important because why?
I think I'm going to write the Anvil Chorus. More to come....
Posted by: Ang May 20 2009, 01:18 PM
Well, here's my letter. They edited it a little, but it gets the point across I guess...
QUOTE
http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?SectionID=50&SubSectionID=75&ArticleID=23269&TM=54892.92
Synthetic turf good for Ames
After giving it some thought, I think synthetic turf at Ames Field is a good thing. A lot of people don't realize what a jewel Ames Field is in the athletic community. It has been featured in magazines, and is used several times for stretching and running by college teams travelling to South Bend to play Notre Dame, and the Drum & Bugle Show is held there every year. In addition to that, colleges and high schools in our state and other states - as far away as California - have come to visit Ames Field because they want to build a similar stadium.
The benefits to synthetic turf are that it will free up many man hours spent on the field, which will allow for more time spent at the schools. In the long run, they will save money. And they will never have to worry about the embarrassment of a brown patchy field - especially as high profile as Ames Field is.
Angelique Peters
Casper, Wyo.
Synthetic turf good for Ames
After giving it some thought, I think synthetic turf at Ames Field is a good thing. A lot of people don't realize what a jewel Ames Field is in the athletic community. It has been featured in magazines, and is used several times for stretching and running by college teams travelling to South Bend to play Notre Dame, and the Drum & Bugle Show is held there every year. In addition to that, colleges and high schools in our state and other states - as far away as California - have come to visit Ames Field because they want to build a similar stadium.
The benefits to synthetic turf are that it will free up many man hours spent on the field, which will allow for more time spent at the schools. In the long run, they will save money. And they will never have to worry about the embarrassment of a brown patchy field - especially as high profile as Ames Field is.
Angelique Peters
Casper, Wyo.
Monday my daughter had the district-wide jr. olympics. I took the day off to spend with her. It was held at the new track/soccer field at one of our high schools. The soccer field is that synthetic turf. Man, I have to say that stuff is BEAUTIFUL. I was sitting on it and took time to really check it out, in the interest of Ames Field, and I am very impressed with that stuff.
Now I definitely support it for Ames.
Posted by: southsider2k9 Jul 3 2009, 02:09 PM
http://blogs.post-trib.com/robb/2009/06/ames_field_facelift_nearly_com.html
QUOTE
Ames Field facelift nearly complete
By
David Robb
on June 29, 2009 4:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)
Construction to fit Michigan City's Ames Field with synthetic turf, which began in May, is expected to be completed by Wednesday.
"It's a big shot in the arm for the program, that's for sure," Wolves football coach Craig Buzea said.
Michigan City is the fifth school in the Duneland Conference to fit its football field with synthetic turf. Lake Central, Chesterton and LaPorte still play on grass.
"I know I've heard talk of Lake Central and Chesterton getting (turf) by next year," Buzea said.
Posted by: reddevil Jul 4 2009, 07:28 AM
Hmmm, I remember when we used to have our swingsets on a parking lot. And the kids flew off the merry go round onto the concrete and we liked it!
Anyway, good for Ames Field. Now get rid of that "I'm a fountain, no I'm not a fountain, I'm a playground" eyesore and call it a day.
Posted by: CaddyRich Jul 4 2009, 11:32 AM
I went over to Ames Field and looked through the fence at the new field. Figured, I paid for it...might as well take a look. All I can say is WOW! The end zones...the real goalposts (instead of those cheap looking ones they had before)...I'm sure it looks even better from the stands. Here's hoping we see a lot of Wolves' TD's in those end zones. Go Wolves!
Posted by: southsider2k9 Jul 7 2009, 09:15 AM
So if anyone went to the drum and bugel show how did the turf look?
Posted by: southsider2k9 Jul 10 2009, 03:14 PM
http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=24377&TM=39837.75
QUOTE
Turf makes a world of difference for DCI event
Laurie Wink
The News-Dispatch
MICHIGAN CITY - This year, when the Drum Corps International competitors marched onto Ames Field, it no doubt felt a bit different.
That's because a new covering of artificial turf was laid down just in time for the DCI event. The Michigan City Area Schools spent more than $700,000 to replace the grass field, and is counting on reduced maintenance costs to help recoup the investment over the turf's 13- to 15-year lifespan.
Most performance fields now have artificial turf, according to Mike McGreevy, a staff member for and former member of the Glassmen Drum and Bugle Corps of Toledo, Ohio.
"It's easier on your body," he said. "You feel less stress."
The Glassmen have been performing well this year, said rifle technician Tom Padgett, from Kingsport, Tenn. The group ranked 11th in the final competition last August in Indianapolis, and Padgett would like to see them "in the single digits" this year.
Padgett said the corps' horn line especially likes the artificial turf.
"It's flat," he said. "You don't worry about holes and dips. It's all level."
Val Glasscock, assistant for tour operations with the Legends Drum Corps, Kalamazoo, Mich., said the new surface is "beautiful" and enhances Ames Field's reputation as a good place to perform. She stopped performing two years ago and has fond memories of being here.
"This is the best field to march on," Glasscock said. "Ask anybody."
Bart Jonker, treasurer of the board of Legends Performing Arts Association, was complimentary of the entire facility.
"It's such a pretty stadium," Jonker said. "You really take good care of it."
Jonker said the 60 members of Legends were competing in the DCI for the second year. Following the group's Sunday evening performance, Jonker felt they did well. His son Ryan and daughter April are in the percussion section of Legends.
Two members of the Michigan City Wolfpack marching band admired the new field as well as the expert performances of the competing drum corps. Freshman Christine Hutchinson, 15, said it will be much easier to wheel her xylophone onto the artificial turf than it was on grass. James Kaiser, 14, will play trumpet in the marching band as a freshman next year and also approves of the artificial turf.
"It looks a lot more professional than the real grass," Kaiser said. "You could hardly see the lines (in the grass)."
They'll be trying it out along with the rest of the marching band on Aug. 21, at the first Michigan City High School football game.
Contact Laurie Wink at lwink@thenewsdispatch.com.
Laurie Wink
The News-Dispatch
MICHIGAN CITY - This year, when the Drum Corps International competitors marched onto Ames Field, it no doubt felt a bit different.
That's because a new covering of artificial turf was laid down just in time for the DCI event. The Michigan City Area Schools spent more than $700,000 to replace the grass field, and is counting on reduced maintenance costs to help recoup the investment over the turf's 13- to 15-year lifespan.
Most performance fields now have artificial turf, according to Mike McGreevy, a staff member for and former member of the Glassmen Drum and Bugle Corps of Toledo, Ohio.
"It's easier on your body," he said. "You feel less stress."
The Glassmen have been performing well this year, said rifle technician Tom Padgett, from Kingsport, Tenn. The group ranked 11th in the final competition last August in Indianapolis, and Padgett would like to see them "in the single digits" this year.
Padgett said the corps' horn line especially likes the artificial turf.
"It's flat," he said. "You don't worry about holes and dips. It's all level."
Val Glasscock, assistant for tour operations with the Legends Drum Corps, Kalamazoo, Mich., said the new surface is "beautiful" and enhances Ames Field's reputation as a good place to perform. She stopped performing two years ago and has fond memories of being here.
"This is the best field to march on," Glasscock said. "Ask anybody."
Bart Jonker, treasurer of the board of Legends Performing Arts Association, was complimentary of the entire facility.
"It's such a pretty stadium," Jonker said. "You really take good care of it."
Jonker said the 60 members of Legends were competing in the DCI for the second year. Following the group's Sunday evening performance, Jonker felt they did well. His son Ryan and daughter April are in the percussion section of Legends.
Two members of the Michigan City Wolfpack marching band admired the new field as well as the expert performances of the competing drum corps. Freshman Christine Hutchinson, 15, said it will be much easier to wheel her xylophone onto the artificial turf than it was on grass. James Kaiser, 14, will play trumpet in the marching band as a freshman next year and also approves of the artificial turf.
"It looks a lot more professional than the real grass," Kaiser said. "You could hardly see the lines (in the grass)."
They'll be trying it out along with the rest of the marching band on Aug. 21, at the first Michigan City High School football game.
Contact Laurie Wink at lwink@thenewsdispatch.com.
Posted by: southsider2k9 Jul 10 2009, 03:16 PM
http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?SectionID=8&SubSectionID=96&ArticleID=24375&TM=39782.25
QUOTE
The Best We Can Offer
Money On Mondays
Nick Dettmann
The News-Dispatch
Installing synthetic turf at Ames Field is a great addition to an already stellar facility, and it looks terrific. It was something that needed to be done, and it is something our community should be proud of.
Michigan City football coach Craig Buzea said officials told him the field at Ames could have been considered too dangerous. In its 14-year history, the sod was never replaced. It is usually recommended to be replaced every five or six years.
When the project to install the synthetic turf was announced, MCHS athletic director Bob "Bear" Falls said, "If you're gonna have a successful athletic program, then your facilities have gotta move up. ... Our kids deserve to play on the very best we can offer."
That thought should be applied to the next project which should be on the radar of the school system - the pool at MCHS.
Over the past few years, City's swimming & diving program has elevated itself to be a strong program in the region, thanks largely to an much-improved feeder program.
Cameron Miller has qualified for state in consecutive years in the breaststroke, and is the leading favorite to win the 100-meter breast next winter. The Wolves sent a relay team to state for the first time in school history in 2008, and if it weren't for a suspension, Justin Kramer could've won the state diving championship.
Plenty more talent is on its way.
MCHS has just one pool. In numerous high schools around the region, there are separate lap and diving pools. The quarters are tight, not allowing the swimmers enough practice space and time.
If any team at City deserves a new facility, it's the swimming & diving team. If our community wants to get serious about the talent level of its swimmers here, we should be striving to put that project on the "To Do" list.
Many wrote to the N-D their pros and cons about Ames Field. Some were confused with the difference between artificial and synthetic turf.
The difference is artificial is a harder surface, almost like playing on a parking lot. Old NFL stadiums such as Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia and the old Busch Stadium were among many stadiums that installed artificial turf when it became popular in the 1980s. But it has faded out in favor of the synthetic turf.
Synthetic turf is a softer
surface, but its performance is similar to artificial surface. It's also much cheaper to maintain and has a longer lifespan than natural grass, especially for a facility located in the upper Midwest. It makes sense in the long run economically, and is safer for the student-athletes.
The biggest complaint was the cost of the project ($700,000 plus).
Of course the money could've been put elsewhere. But this was a one-time cost, and our community will be better off.
One major benefit of synthetic turf is it pays for itself within a couple years due to the savings on maintenance costs. Ames cost $53,000 annually to maintain.
To re-sod it, the cost would've been roughly $75,000. It would've been a short-term gain, a long-term loss.
Synthetic turf will drive those costs down, which will open up budget money down the road for future projects.
Contact sports writer Nick Dettmann at ndettmann@thenewsdispatch.com or 874-7211, Ext. 447.
Money On Mondays
Nick Dettmann
The News-Dispatch
Installing synthetic turf at Ames Field is a great addition to an already stellar facility, and it looks terrific. It was something that needed to be done, and it is something our community should be proud of.
Michigan City football coach Craig Buzea said officials told him the field at Ames could have been considered too dangerous. In its 14-year history, the sod was never replaced. It is usually recommended to be replaced every five or six years.
When the project to install the synthetic turf was announced, MCHS athletic director Bob "Bear" Falls said, "If you're gonna have a successful athletic program, then your facilities have gotta move up. ... Our kids deserve to play on the very best we can offer."
That thought should be applied to the next project which should be on the radar of the school system - the pool at MCHS.
Over the past few years, City's swimming & diving program has elevated itself to be a strong program in the region, thanks largely to an much-improved feeder program.
Cameron Miller has qualified for state in consecutive years in the breaststroke, and is the leading favorite to win the 100-meter breast next winter. The Wolves sent a relay team to state for the first time in school history in 2008, and if it weren't for a suspension, Justin Kramer could've won the state diving championship.
Plenty more talent is on its way.
MCHS has just one pool. In numerous high schools around the region, there are separate lap and diving pools. The quarters are tight, not allowing the swimmers enough practice space and time.
If any team at City deserves a new facility, it's the swimming & diving team. If our community wants to get serious about the talent level of its swimmers here, we should be striving to put that project on the "To Do" list.
Many wrote to the N-D their pros and cons about Ames Field. Some were confused with the difference between artificial and synthetic turf.
The difference is artificial is a harder surface, almost like playing on a parking lot. Old NFL stadiums such as Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia and the old Busch Stadium were among many stadiums that installed artificial turf when it became popular in the 1980s. But it has faded out in favor of the synthetic turf.
Synthetic turf is a softer
surface, but its performance is similar to artificial surface. It's also much cheaper to maintain and has a longer lifespan than natural grass, especially for a facility located in the upper Midwest. It makes sense in the long run economically, and is safer for the student-athletes.
The biggest complaint was the cost of the project ($700,000 plus).
Of course the money could've been put elsewhere. But this was a one-time cost, and our community will be better off.
One major benefit of synthetic turf is it pays for itself within a couple years due to the savings on maintenance costs. Ames cost $53,000 annually to maintain.
To re-sod it, the cost would've been roughly $75,000. It would've been a short-term gain, a long-term loss.
Synthetic turf will drive those costs down, which will open up budget money down the road for future projects.
Contact sports writer Nick Dettmann at ndettmann@thenewsdispatch.com or 874-7211, Ext. 447.
Posted by: taxthedeer Jul 13 2009, 12:12 AM
QUOTE(southsider2k9 @ Jul 7 2009, 10:15 AM)
So if anyone went to the drum and bugel show how did the turf look?
I'm glad to see the plastic grass put in. The old natural turf really did never recover from that fungus problem it developed a few years ago. Hopefully the investment will payoff in the form of a few more wins at Ames.
Posted by: CaddyRich Jul 13 2009, 06:42 AM
Great photo...not only of the field, but the surrounding area. Welcome to CBTL.
Posted by: southsider2k9 Jul 13 2009, 08:52 AM
Thanks for the pic, it looks very nice!
Posted by: eric.hanke Jul 13 2009, 09:25 AM
QUOTE(taxthedeer @ Jul 13 2009, 01:12 AM)
I'm glad to see the plastic grass put in. The old natural turf really did never recover from that fungus problem it developed a few years ago. Hopefully the investment will payoff in the form of a few more wins at Ames.
What are all those lines running east to west? For a field less than 2 weeks old it sure does not look it.
Posted by: taxthedeer Jul 13 2009, 02:42 PM
QUOTE(eric.hanke @ Jul 13 2009, 10:25 AM)
What are all those lines running east to west? For a field less than 2 weeks old it sure does not look it.
My question is why did they have to turn on the lights in broad daylight?
Posted by: southsider2k9 Jul 15 2009, 11:02 AM
QUOTE(taxthedeer @ Jul 13 2009, 03:42 PM)
I found the pic on the HS football teams website at mcwolvesfootball.com. Those lines appear to be left by those two maintence vehicles shown parked at the North East corner of Ames Field.
My question is why did they have to turn on the lights in broad daylight?
I totally missed that the lights were on! Good observation. Oh, and welcome to Citybythelake!
Posted by: southsider2k9 Aug 10 2009, 08:06 AM
I said it in the Wolves football thread, but the turf looks great, as does the new scoreboard (which I didn't know we were getting). The impressive thing was after a rainy night, I didn't see a single player lose their footing.
Posted by: taxthedeer Aug 10 2009, 10:51 AM
List of some drawbacks with Ames Field is:
- 1. Lack of Bleacher space on the visiting side, only eight rows of seating spread just 50 yards out makes for congested seating space for a large visiting crowd.
- 2. Ames Field runs East and West, most stadiums run North and South.
- 3. Home bleachers face to the due North, makes for a blustery evening if you'd ever have sit in the stands facing a cold wind off Lake Michigan in the middle of November.
- 4. The fact that Ames Field is in a different part of town from the High School campus it means cannot be utillized during the school day for things such as PE class.
- 5. Students need to be bussed from the High School for practice.
- 6. Equiptment needs to be constantly transported to and from the High School and Ames Field .
- 5. No track surrounding the field makes it less of a multi-activity facillity.
- 6. Remains completely shut down during the winter months.
- 7. Underutilized, multi-million dollar venue sits along Franklin Street empty quite alot.
- 8. Parking space for an overflow crowd could be a problem
Posted by: IndyTransplant Aug 10 2009, 11:39 AM
QUOTE(taxthedeer @ Aug 10 2009, 11:51 AM)
List of some drawbacks with Ames Field is:
- 1. Lack of Bleacher space on the visiting side, only eight rows of seating spread just 50 yards out makes for congested seating space for a large visiting crowd. What do you suggest?
- 2. Ames Field runs East and West, most stadiums run North and South. It was built in the 1950's originally and rebuilt in 1995. Would you rather we tear it down now and start over?
- 3. Home bleachers face to the due North, makes for a blustery evening if you'd ever have sit in the stands facing a cold wind off Lake Michigan in the middle of November. Most HS and college football games are blustery anywhere in Indiana. People dress for the weather and fo anyway. What changes do you suggest?
- 4. The fact that Ames Field is in a different part of town from the High School campus it means cannot be utillized during the school day for things such as PE class. Do we not already have open fields and a gym at the HS for PE classes. For what purpose, would a PE class use a football field?
- 5. Students need to be bussed from the High School for practice. That occurs in many other towns and cities also.
- 6. Equiptment needs to be constantly transported to and from the High School and Ames Field .
- 5. No track surrounding the field makes it less of a multi-activity facillity. That is a shame, but there are tracks all around town.
- 6. Remains completely shut down during the winter months. Does it really - no events at all? What are the winter months to you? Do not most HS football fields remain empty after football season?
- 7. Underutilized, multi-million dollar venue sits along Franklin Street empty quite alot. With all of the above remarks - what would you like to see happen now that would not waste the history or all of the dollars paid for this facility (original and rebuilt) over the past 60 years?
Wikipedia entry for Ames Field
Michigan City's premier athletic facility, the new Ames Field was opened in 1995. Home to the Michigan City Wolves high school football, Ames Field also hosts the Drum and Bugle Corps Showcase every summer. The original Ames Field was home to the Michigan City White Caps from 1950-1959. The original multipurpose sports facility was demolished in 1995 to make room for expanded stadium. Ames field is named after Mr. George Ames, an early businessman and mayor of Michigan City in the late 1800s. In the spring of 2009, the stadium's playing surface was replaced with artificial field turf at the price $718,396 in lieu of resodding the heavily damaged turf.
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My comments on your remarks are in blue above
My final comments are:
This is a beautiful facility in an otherwise not necessarily over attractive area.
It is a piece of Michigan City history that is still being used and kept up (unlike a few of the privately owned business buildings further uptown).
I think this is a huge asset to Michigan City.
Posted by: MC Born & Raised Aug 10 2009, 12:31 PM
QUOTE(taxthedeer @ Aug 10 2009, 11:51 AM)
List of some drawbacks with Ames Field is:
- 1. Lack of Bleacher space on the visiting side, only eight rows of seating spread just 50 yards out makes for congested seating space for a large visiting crowd. Agreed, though I've never seen it become a problem.
- 2. Ames Field runs East and West, most stadiums run North and South. I'm not sure why this matters, but you're probably right.
- 3. Home bleachers face to the due North, makes for a blustery evening if you'd ever have sit in the stands facing a cold wind off Lake Michigan in the middle of November. This is true. I've often heard this complaint from fans, though I'm usually nice and cozy in the press box.
- 4. The fact that Ames Field is in a different part of town from the High School campus it means cannot be utillized during the school day for things such as PE class. I see both sides of this. I love its current location, but the fact it's so far away from MCHS seems odd.
- 5. Students need to be bussed from the High School for practice. They only practice there once a week, to my knowledge, usually the day before the game. Otherwise they use the practice field at MCHS. But, agreed, it's kind of a pain, I'm sure.
- 6. Equiptment needs to be constantly transported to and from the High School and Ames Field . Same as above.
- 5. No track surrounding the field makes it less of a multi-activity facillity. Probably my biggest complaint with Ames. I'd also like to see it used for soccer, but they would require a massive construction project.
- 6. Remains completely shut down during the winter months. Not sure what could be held there during the winter ...
- 7. Underutilized, multi-million dollar venue sits along Franklin Street empty quite alot. I'd love to see it used once a week or more for something. City and schools need to do a better job showcasing it.
- 8. Parking space for an overflow crowd could be a problem. [color=#3366FF] Yeah, the parking lot is quite small. Hopefully this becomes a problem, because that would mean the team is good enough to require extra parking.
Comments above in blue, just like Indy ...
Posted by: IndyTransplant Aug 10 2009, 12:47 PM
QUOTE(MC Born & Raised @ Aug 10 2009, 01:31 PM)
Comments above in blue, just like Indy ...
Just curious - why would it take a massive construction to use it for soccer? You have to understand I am a huge soccer fan, and my son played in HS. They often played on what were otherwise football fields at many schools with portable soccer goals. My son's HS had a soccer field (they did not have a football team though), but many high schools in Indy combined the football field and soccer field.
Posted by: MC Born & Raised Aug 10 2009, 08:46 PM
QUOTE(IndyTransplant @ Aug 10 2009, 01:47 PM)
Just curious - why would it take a massive construction to use it for soccer? You have to understand I am a huge soccer fan, and my son played in HS. They often played on what were otherwise football fields at many schools with portable soccer goals. My son's HS had a soccer field (they did not have a football team though), but many high schools in Indy combined the football field and soccer field.
The problem, as it's been explained to me, is width. As you know, a soccer field is a wider than a football field, and there really isn't enough room at Ames as it's currently constructed. I think football fields are 53 yards in width and soccer fields are between 64 and 70. You might say 11 to 17 yards isn't that much, but if you take a close look at Ames' surface you'll see why it's an issue. The fix, I think, is to shove the road bleachers farther north, but of course there's a wall there, hence the massive (or at least quite large) construction project.
So, basically, when they first built Ames it wasn't built with the foresight of one day hosting a sport like soccer. Of course, there was no high school soccer program here until the consolidation. Now, you could also make the argument that the opening of Ames coincided with the reopening of Ames, and therefore it should have been considered. LOL. I wouldn't argue with that. Personally, I'd love to see soccer and track meets conducted at Ames. The track facility at MCHS isn't the best, to say the least. But that would be an even bigger project.
Posted by: IndyTransplant Aug 10 2009, 09:26 PM
QUOTE(MC Born & Raised @ Aug 10 2009, 09:46 PM)
The problem, as it's been explained to me, is width. As you know, a soccer field is a wider than a football field, and there really isn't enough room at Ames as it's currently constructed. I think football fields are 53 yards in width and soccer fields are between 64 and 70. You might say 11 to 17 yards isn't that much, but if you take a close look at Ames' surface you'll see why it's an issue. The fix, I think, is to shove the road bleachers farther north, but of course there's a wall there, hence the massive (or at least quite large) construction project.
So, basically, when they first built Ames it wasn't built with the foresight of one day hosting a sport like soccer. Of course, there was no high school soccer program here until the consolidation. Now, you could also make the argument that the opening of Ames coincided with the reopening of Ames, and therefore it should have been considered. LOL. I wouldn't argue with that. Personally, I'd love to see soccer and track meets conducted at Ames. The track facility at MCHS isn't the best, to say the least. But that would be an even bigger project.
I looked at the FIFA laws of the game and found this
field size width must be a minimum of 50 yds (45 m) and a maximum of 100 yds (90 m)
length must be a minimum of 100 yds (90 m) and a maximum of 130 yds.
So it may be possible, but would be one of the smaller fields played on.
Anyway that would have been nice.
Posted by: southsider2k9 Aug 12 2009, 08:36 AM
Is Ames Field owned by Michigan City or by the MCAS? To me, that question makes a very large difference in how the community is able to utilize it.
Posted by: Ang Aug 13 2009, 10:04 PM
To my knowledge, it is owned by MCAS. Zilla Field is the only property occupied by MCAS that it does not own, as far as I know. I could be wrong, but I don't believe I am.
BTW, Elston has a very nice track field, why is it not used for HS track meets?
Posted by: taxthedeer Mar 15 2013, 11:53 AM
It was announced that La Porte will be getting synthetic turf at Kiawanis Field and the outdated Burial Gounds at Lake Central will undergo a complete reconstruction project that will not only add synthetic turf but will move their field from facing east to west to north to south. This means all eight member schools in the Duneland conference will have synthetic turf for their football fields.
Posted by: Southsider2k12 Mar 15 2013, 12:01 PM
QUOTE(taxthedeer @ Mar 15 2013, 12:53 PM)
It was announced that La Porte will be getting synthetic turf at Kiawanis Field and the outdated Burial Gounds at Lake Central will undergo a complete reconstruction project that will not only add synthetic turf but will move their field from facing east to west to north to south. This means all eight member schools in the Duneland conference will have synthetic turf for their football fields.
No school needs a redo more than Lake Central. Their facilities are horrible.
Posted by: taxthedeer Mar 15 2013, 12:44 PM
QUOTE(Southsider2k12 @ Mar 15 2013, 01:01 PM)
No school needs a redo more than Lake Central. Their facilities are horrible.
Here is what Lake Central's facility will look like once it's completed:
http://www.lchsroomconcepts.blogspot.com/2012/04/football-locker-rooms.html?m=1
Posted by: taxthedeer Apr 15 2014, 11:37 AM
La Porte High School's Kiwanis Field will begin synthetic turf installation next week. They are waiting for winter weather to subside.
When Lake Central High School's Burial Grounds reconstruction is completed next year all eight member schools of the Duneland conference will have made the transition from natural grass to synthetic turf.
Posted by: Jesse B Apr 17 2014, 12:30 PM
That's too bad LaPorte always had one of the nicest kept grass fields in the area. I still question the $$$ to go to Fieldturf but we are in an age where you have to keep up with the "Jones's".
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