Artifical solution to playing problems

The City of Charlottetown and University of Prince Edward Island are making the case for building an artificial turf sports field in the city.

Charlottetown said while the fields are expensive to build they eventually pay for themselves. The cost of maintaining the playing surfaces is cheaper than having to plant new grass every year, and they can be used constantly during the season.

The city has had to take some of its fields out of service in recent years, leaving the soccer, rugby and football teams to find news places to play for up to an entire season.

Ron Annear, the acting athletic director at UPEI, said he hopes the school and city can team up to build one artificial surface.

"Field turf would solve our issues. Not only ensure a quality field, but it would extend our playing time."

The playing surface doesn't look like the fake grass you'll find tacked to the front steps of homes. Field Turf has the look and feel of natural grass, with the ability to provide solid footing for the athletes.

Sue Hendricken, who manages parks and recreation for the City of Charlottetown, said some of the groups would have players pay extra to play on the new field.

"It's a lot easier to make a business case for an artificial turf than a natural one because the user groups are willing to pay a higher usage fee. But also because of the maintenance costs not having to be there on the day-to-day maintenance piece. So the business case is there, I think, to get enough revenue to justify it."

The cost of building the new field would be around $500,000.

Councillors in the community of Cornwall are also looking at an artificial surface. It is building a new sports facility near Eliot River School.

Councillor Michael Zink said teams will be expected to pay for that surface too.

"They're all interested. I think the key point is what is going to be the financial cost. And what we'll be asking of them, and can they deliver that from their membership. So we'll be asking them to make an ongoing financial commitment that will, at the end of the day, make up a percentage of the project's costs."

Zink said the town's recreation department is gathering some of the financial details before making a presentation to the council.

Charlottetown is a little further along, councillors may get a turf field proposal during its Dec. meeting.