By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
The new artificial turf has been in place since the start of the football season at Great Bend High School’s Memorial Stadium, but installing the new eight-lane track caused some rearranging for other activities on the field.
The majority of the youth flag football season through the Great Bend Recreation Commission was moved to Veterans Memorial Park in an attempt to keep people off the track. Rec Sports Director Paul Zamarripa said the flag football games were able to return to the high school Tuesday night.
"We had a lot of scoring Tuesday night," said Zamarripa. "The fields are a lot wider than they are at Vets. The kids had fun. They were taking pictures afterwards. It was exciting."
The $2 million project through USD 428 replaced the turf for the first time since 2008.
With the switch back to the high school, only flag football players and coaches are allowed on the track and field. All spectators must sit in the stands.
"Everything is brand new," said Zamarripa. "We want to keep everything clean so we can continue this partnership with the school district in being able to use Memorial Stadium for our football games."
Like the Great Bend Sports Complex, sunflower seeds and other shelled products are not allowed around the turf.