The Oak Ridge City Council on Monday will consider applying for a state grant worth up to $500,000 to install synthetic turf at Blankenship Field. Pictured above, Oak Ridge junior wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) hauls in a catch near the left sideline during a 45-6 win over Campbell County on Blankenship Field on Friday, Oct. 30, 2015. (File photo by Julio Culiat)
The Oak Ridge City Council on Monday will consider applying for a state grant worth up to $500,000 to install synthetic turf at Blankenship Field. It’s the first phase of a multi-million-dollar proposal to renovate Blankenship Field and Jack Armstrong Stadium.
The application that City Council will consider is a Local Parks and Recreation Fund grant from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. The grant requires a 50 percent match, which would be provided by the nonprofit Blankenship Field Revitalization Foundation. The requested grant funding could range between $250,000 and $500,000.
The Local Parks and Recreation Fund, or LPRF, grant provides state funding for parks and recreation development and capital projects, said Jon Hetrick, Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks director. It requires the facility to be maintained as a public recreational facility and open to the public. Grant reports must be filed with the state every five years to document ongoing use as a public recreational facility.
The synthetic turf would replicate lush natural grass and require less maintenance than the current playing surface, Bermuda grass, Hetrick said. It would also increase playability, is more durable than grass, and eliminates the problem of spring and fall rains, advocates said. They said the synthetic turf could save 50,000 gallons of water per week during the growing season and lead to fewer injuries.
The estimated total cost of the project, including new ornamental fencing around the playing surface, is $1 million, according to a February 24 letter from the Blankenship Field Revitalization Foundation to City Council and City Manager Mark Watson. The Foundation could provide matching funds as either cash or in-kind services secured from private donors.
“This grant will enable us to expand usage of the facility to thousands of local residents for a variety of events and venues by creating a multi-purpose facility that will include music, sports, and community events,” the Foundation said in the letter. “The present condition of the field has limited opportunity for usage by the public for additional events.”
The Blankenship Field Revitalization Foundation said the revitalization will complement other efforts to recognize the historical significance of Oak Ridge, including in the Jackson Square area and through the recently established Manhattan Project National Historical Park.
“This is the first phase of a multi-million-dollar vision of a state-of-the-are facility that will enable our children and our community to appreciate our history and prosper in the future,” said Randy McNally, chair of the Blankenship Field Revitalization Foundation.
Hetrick said the Blankenship Field Revitalization Foundation presented its proposal to the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board in February, and the board supported it unanimously.
Hetrick said the city has previously received LPRF grants for ballfields and recreational facilities.
Other area schools are also considering or working on installing synthetic turf, including in Anderson and Knox counties. The Oak Ridge Wildcats played on two synthetic turf fields in 2015, one in Kingsport Dobyns-Bennett and the other in Sevier County.
So far, the work at Blankenship Field and Jack Armstrong Stadium has included:
- replacement of the visitors side bleachers and contouring of the east bank for $500,000 (Oak Ridge Schools);
- contouring and landscaping the north bank for $35,000 (Oak Ridge Schools and Oak Ridge Quarterback Club);
- installing visitors steps for $15,000 (Oak Ridge Schools); and
- renovating the Broadway Avenue parking lot for $250,000 (City of Oak Ridge).
Other projects included in Phase I include installation of an LED scoreboard with video and media options, a new entrance with ticket booths at field level, and new fencing, visitors concessions and restrooms, and home side bleachers and grandstand.
Phase II would include a new home side stadium with expanded locker rooms, press box, and club seating and communications.
The Blankenship Field Revitalization Foundation is led by McNally and a board comprised of 18 other officers and directors: Operating Officer David Beck, Secretary Scott Underwood, Treasurer David Bradshaw, and directors Richard G. Chinn Jr., Christopher J. Corwin, Pete Craven, Joe Gaddis, Lawrence A. Hahn, Len M. Hart, Jim Helton, Mike Mullins, James T. Normand, Gregory S. Palmer, Phil Parrett, Jack Pope, James C. Powers, Jill Prudden, Nat Revis, Wayne Roquemore, and John Smith.
The Oak Ridge City Council meeting starts at 7 p.m. Monday, March 14, in the Municipal Building Courtroom. See the agenda here.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
Copyright 2016 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Sam Hopwood says
Why are we in OR in such a hurry to put ground up tires on our football field? That is the cushion for synthetic turf, you know. In watching the OR/Smokey Bear game last year, you could see the little particles flying when cleats were dug into the turf. On the other hand, maybe it’s healthful to inhale ground up tires. Who woulda’ thunk it?
I’ll duck and await the onslaught… 🙂
Philip W Nipper says
I have seen several news stories in the national media over several months regarding ground rubber used for modern artificial turf surfaces and the possible health concerns associated with it. Some folks have suggested it could be a leading contributor to an uptick in cancer occurrences for those youngsters who have engaged in sporting activities on it over a period of a few years. Apparently the EPA, CDC and others have been somewhat reluctant to draw a straight line from one to the other. John, could you find out if the proposed material is the same that has been mentioned in the news lately with regard to being a possible cancer causing agent?
Philip W Nipper says
Some additional research on my part has uncovered the following; the CDC, EPA and the Consumer Product Safety Commission are engaged in joint testing of these materials per the guidance of a Federal Research Action Plan. The results of the tests are due to be released in late 2016. I feel it would be unwise to go forward with the procurement and installation of the synthetic turf until the results have been released and discussed by the public, the city staff, the school staff, the Blankenship Field Revitalization Foundation and the council.
Sam Hopwood says
Words of common sense and reason. Let’s do, indeed, await the results of the tests and time to discuss them. What harm can come from that?
Raymond Charles Kircher says
The greatest harm of all to Oak Ridgers, you will pay more for it.
Raymond Charles Kircher says
There have been many other tests on recycled rubber dating back to the 90’s. All those tests have consecutively shown a safer environment as technology has produced better rubber. The major problem of tires used to be lead, but that formula has changed and tires made after 2008 are lead-free. Still, we are talking about leaching and air-borne VOC and sVOC. Again, as tires become safer for the people who manufacture over a billion tires a year and our rides become smoother and better traction, the tests of all health problems from products show a trend of rubber being the safest of all to include artificial hearts and arteries, yet insecticides, herbicides, and asbestos in a more DIY world goes untested. This will happen.
What is interesting, the playgrounds that have used the SBR (your recycled tire) with a layer of EPDM ( a top layer) children with latex allergies have been able use the new playgrounds without any latex induced asthmatic episodes. Truly, let the tests come out, but how many tests does anyone need to have a direction?
johnhuotari says
Philip, that question may come up at the City Council meeting tonight.
If not, I presume Athletic Director Mike Mullins will be there, and I’ll ask him.
Thank you,
John
johnhuotari says
Philip, I asked Mike Mullins about this, and he said he’s done a lot of research and not been able to find a correlation between the crumb rubber used in synthetic turf and cancer. He said the EPA is doing a study that should be concluded by the end of the year.
The city did not discuss replacing the natural turf, and Mullins and the Foundation have advocated for the synthetic turf.
I hope that helps.
Thank you,
John
Philip W Nipper says
Thanks for the follow up John. Let’s hope we end up with a safe product.
Raymond Charles Kircher says
This is going to happen. If the rate taxpayers please take notice, the payments to consultants and conceptual studies were mostly done in-kind and with volunteers. One comment about watering turf would have to be detailed. Artificial turf does require water, a lot of water. If you have been around these turf fields, they water it for many reasons.
Keith Hyatt says
I hope it happens, Blankenship is a part or Oak Ridge history and until the last two years, not much done there. If they can get the state grants that would be great. I have seen the reports of ground tire rubber and cancer. No t proven yet, but I have heard some field manufacturers are looking into using other materials such as ground up two liter bottles from soft drinks. The fields are watered, but not near as much as grass fields and grass also requires residing, plugging etc about every year plus mowing and striping for each game. This project is long overdue and from what I understand AC and Clinton and Knox County are already moving ahead with their fields. I’m glad to see Council paying attention and trying to help out.
Sam Hopwood says
I’ve never understood the need for synthetic turf, just as I’ve never understood the need for jumbo-trons, and sky-boxes but I guess that dates me. I’m “old school” and never had any interest in “keeping up with the Jones’s.” OR has done pretty well through the years playing on “plain ole grass.”
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Just my view.
‘
Dave Smith says
What’s your view on polycarbonate helmets with face masks, the forward pass, soccer-style place kicking, bio-flex cups, fitness training and season tickets? It’s not like we need those things…
Sam Hopwood says
Oh my, I’ve upset you. Good!
Matt Bailey says
“If a horse won’t eat it, I don’t want to play on it”.
Richie Allen, Phillies first baseman
Sam Hopwood says
Oh that’s good! 🙂
Raymond Charles Kircher says
If we have players like Dick Allen, then we would have time to grow grass.
Matt Bailey says
It’s March.
Raymond Charles Kircher says
Again Matt, if we have players like Dick Allen, then we would have time to grow grass. And you may not have noticed, but it is daylight savings time also.
Matt Bailey says
I’m sorry Raymond, this makes no sense. Summer is ideal time for growing Bermuda. I believe the pushback for this idea is the fact that hardly any SEC schools use turf. Now, if you’re gonna open it up to the band and baseball and softball teams, then it becomes multi functional.
Raymond Charles Kircher says
Watering the fake turf is key. The water prevents injury which is proven. More should have been written about the safety of the fake turf from both perspectives, not just the cost. My point, this will happen. That is what happens when smart people with a track history of achieving excellence tackle a goal.
Raymond Charles Kircher says
The scoreboard is in a poor location to optimize even LED lighting. The board would be best positioned at the entrance to the stadium where the spectators can enjoy both sides, if in the future the foundation can afford more video. Think about it a bit.
Devrin Kuipers says
Maybe someone else missed this in the text. “The Local Parks and Recreation Fund, or LPRF, grant provides state funding for parks and recreation development and capital projects, said Jon Hetrick, Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks director. It requires the facility to be maintained as a public recreational facility and open to the public.” If it must be open to the public then I don’t think they can charge admittance for forrball games. Either way, the football field/stadium are not open to the public. They are chained. Wrong use of a grant.
Raymond Charles Kircher says
Didn’t miss it, welcomed it. Being able to expand uses on public facilities, like internet at the library, or renting a pavilion at a park, working away from the mindset that has put Oak Ridge Seniors into an old public building. There are regulations everywhere, like no motorized vehicles on Oak Ridge greenways. Once this Blankenship field goal is accomplished, the question to ask is do we have a Parks and Rec that is not performing as well as our public facilities and fields?
Terry Lee says
How much money has been donated by private individuals?
johnhuotari says
Terry,
I’ve seen a chart of the donations by various ORHS classes, but I don’t think I’ve seen anything on the donations by private individuals. I’ll try to get that info.
Thank you,
John
johnhuotari says
Terry,
I found an image of total donations by ORHS graduating classes: https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/v/t1.0-9/1929263_576988735799101_1827298093130728175_n.jpg?oh=b4f80ab11e3bda12a234cd333f933c28&oe=5794AB9D
I hope that helps.
Thank you,
John