Smith Sports Complex, the wide-open soccer fields at the northeast boundary of Fort Lewis College, is closed and will remain so through August, the city of Durango announced Saturday.
The reason? A 30-inch raw water supply line break, and subsequent smaller breaks, that occurred late June 2023 and persisted into July that year left the fields deprived of sufficient irrigation. Although regular use and wear and tear is accounted for, too.
The sports complex closes every year after Memorial Day weekend through the first week of July to allow the turf to rest and rejuvenate, said Sara Humphrey, Durango parks manager.
The grassy fields are taking a longer break this summer because of the loss of water caused by the pipeline breakage last year.
“We really didn't get our restoration period that we set aside every summer,” she said.
She said the irrigation is currently functioning as it should be and staff are waiting for grass seedlings to germinate, or break from their seeds and sprout.
“Last season the loss of water impacted the blue grass from coming in and only the ryegrass got established which led to a clumpy playing surface,” she said.
The tennis courts adjacent to the fields at the northeast edge of FLC’s campus and parking in the lot near there will remain open, she said.
Soon after the raw water pipeline break occurred last summer, the city asked Fort Lewis College, Durango School District 9-R and Hillcrest Golf Course to limit their irrigation water use.
A news release published in July 2023 says the city, a major water user in and of itself, limited its own water use, particularly for less popular parks.
The break caused the total water supply in Terminal Reservoir, the city’s short-term water supply on College Mesa, to drop by 8 million gallons over the week following the initial breakage, according to the city. The reservoir had 70 million gallons remaining.
The ordeal caused the city to consider imposing further water use restrictions.
Barricades and signage were placed around the fields to deter people from venturing onto them.
Humphrey said the Durango Parks and Recreation department has received input from residents that people are using the sports complex’s field as an off-leash dog park, which isn’t allowed.
“Just a reminder that dogs need to be on leash in all City Parks and Open Space and the only off-leash area is located at the base of Smelter Mountain at the designated off-leash area,” she said.
cburney@durangoherald.com
