By Kate Larsen
Camera Staff Writer

LONGMONT — Dry field conditions could leave youth soccer and football players with fewer places to play this summer.

The St. Vrain Valley School District is considering closing some of its athletic fields to outside groups — like local sports leagues — to preserve them for school teams this fall.

Drought conditions mean the fields at many Longmont schools already have dead grass and dirt patches.

"We're going to have to keep people off of them or it will just totally ruin them," said Rex Hartman, St. Vrain Valley's director of operations and maintenance.

Hartman said the drought means less ditch water for the school district to use on the athletic fields. Additionally, the city of Longmont recently cut the school district's water supply by 10 percent.

"We're going to be as conservative as possible so we can stretch the water as far as we can," Hartman said.

Hartman and Don Bessler, Longmont's parks and recreation director, are scheduled to meet July 17 to discuss the situation, Bessler said.

"We'll evaluate the conditions, and then we'll make a decision," Bessler said. He added that if any field restrictions are necessary, it won't happen until middle to late summer.

"Our athletic groups are our large users of school fields and city parks and put a large stress on the turf," Bessler said.

Bessler said he has spoken with local soccer and football program representatives to let them know of the possible field closures.

Contact Kate reporter Larsen at larsenk@thedailycamera.com or (303) 473-1361.

May 31, 2002

E-mail this story to a friend | Printer-friendly version