Unseasonable weather makes for unsafe sports fields
April 8, 2010
In the wake of unseasonably wet and cold weather, a number of our grass sports fields have been damaged so severely that they're unsafe to use.
We can't repair the fields until weather conditions improve, and we want to make sure people are safe, so we've closed the fields until at least next Tuesday, April 12.
Meanwhile, we're working with sports groups around town to relocate as many games as we can to turf fields at Delta Park and Rieke Elementary.
Games will take precedence over practice sessions until we can reopen our grass fields.
Weather forecasts call for continued rain and cold weather into next week, and it's possible that further deterioration could mean long-term closure, but we're keeping a close watch on the fields and will reopen them as soon as we can be sure they're safe.
As a soccer dad, Commissioner Fish knows what a disappointment this is for kids and families.
This weather-related shutdown is a reminder of just how important it is to keep working to bring new all-weather turf fields, like soon-to-be-opened Buckman, to Portland.