New sports fields that are four years in the making have turned brown – not because the grass is dead, but because the 15-acre complex is covered in dirt as a part of intense aeration practices.
“We top-dressed, overseeded and aerated, so they’re going to look brown,” said Cathy Metz, director of Durango Parks and Recreation. “We’re watering, we’re mowing, we’re maintaining them – getting ready for play for the fall sports.”
That may come as a relief to residents who have been waiting since 2012 to play turf sports on the $5.3 million fields.
During that time, the Smith Sports Complex has faced a series of setbacks, starting with grass that failed to grow properly. While dealing with that, the city discovered rocks near the surface of the playing fields. The city tried aeration and manual removal of the rocks, but officials eventually decided to remove the grass and scrape 6 inches of topsoil to screen out the rocks. The fields were re-sodded in September, but after the winter snow melted, the city found vole damage, which has led to the intense aeration practices this summer.
Metz said the city plans to hold a grand opening in August.
“Everything is good,” she said.
shane@durangoherald.com
