By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Great Bend Public Lands Director Scott Keeler said for the first time in
his 28 years working with the City of Great Bend, there have been no baseball
or softball tournaments in town this summer canceled due to rain.
This summer has marked the first “tournament season” with artificial turf at
the Great Bend Sports Complex.
Keeler said there were reservations at first for
the $1.37 million turf project that was completed last winter, but the learning
experience has been rewarding this summer.
"From other teams, surrounding communities and local teams, just everyone I talked to...it's been all positive," said Keeler. "They said it played better and they didn't have the dirt blowing in their face."
The upgrades placed turf on the infields of the five ballfields at the complex
while leaving natural grass in the outfields. Keeler said the turf
installation has allowed the city to water the outfields multiple times a day
because there is no more worry of getting the infields too wet. Because of this, the condition of the grass throughout the hot summers should improve.
The city, USD 428 and Great Bend Recreation Commission divvied up the cost of
the turf project. The Rec Commission is handling annual maintenance and paid
$6,750 this year for Hellas Construction to perform professional sweep cleaning
services.