It may only be late March, but the newly renovated fields at the Great Bend Sports Complex are already starting to see the dividends of the newly installed synthetic turf, with a full schedule already ramping up at the fields.
Great Bend Recreation Commission Assistant Superintendent Chris Umphres told the rec board at Monday’s monthly meeting that Great Bend High School’s baseball and softball teams have already begun practicing on the newly renovated fields this week.
With the newly turfed fields, Umphres said this is the first summer that practices will be allowed on the complex’s fields. Previously, the field had been open only for games and tournaments.
The facility will be open for use by any team or group that wishes to use it, but they will need to schedule ahead of time, due to new ground rules at the fields prohibiting the use of sunflower seeds, shelled nuts and chewing gum on the synthetic surfaces.
The rule began at area facilities as a COVID-19 safety precaution, but will be in place permanently with the new fields in place. Umphres said these prohibitions are not unique to the Sports Complex, but are standard practice with facilities around the state with synthetic turf fields. The rule exists with turf surfaces because those materials present a significant maintenance issue and for the surfaces, and become an eyesore for the surfaces, as well. “They don’t dissolve, they don’t blow away, they just stay in the turf.”
This is not the only maintenance precaution being taken during practices at the complex, however. Hitting mats made of 6 by 8-foot pieces of the same material as the turf will also be required during practices at the field. Umphres said this is to prevent excess wear in the areas around home plate of the fields. The mats will only be required during practices, not during games.
GBRC is requiring field use to be scheduled ahead of time so practices can be supervised by Rec personnel at a rate of $15 per hour. Previously, all activities at the facility have been supervised, so this is simply an extension of policies that are already in place.
Already paying dividends
The practices already in full swing are just the beginning of a full slate of events at the complex. The fields are booked for games and tournaments every weekend from now through late July.
On March 26, the facility will host its first tournament, a kickball tournament hosted by Central Kansas Partnership’s Youth Crew that will be open to the public at a $5 per person registration.
After that, Umphres said they have already had several sanctioning bodies schedule tournaments throughout the summer. These include USSSA and Hap Dumont, sanctioning bodies for youth baseball and softball.
The Kansas High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) will hold its 2-1A state baseball and softball tournaments at the facility May 26-27.
And it’s not just tournaments. Sylvan-Lucas and Buckin high schools, separated by nearly 150 miles, have scheduled a game at the facility on May 9 because of its central location between the two schools.
Along with these organizations, GBRC will host its slate of youth baseball and softball activities at the facility this summer.
With a full slate already planned, Umphres is excited to see how the new surfaces handle unpredictable Kansas spring and summer weather.
“We’ll see if rain comes into play during any of the tournaments. (If so), and if we’re able to continue playing, then (the turf) has definitely met its goals.”
