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Just wanted to share what a field will look like if you do not have a designated "field maintenance guru" doing all of the little things vs. when the local Park-n-Recreation department takes over.


From Summers of late 2005-2007, this is what R. Charles Hott Field looked like (having a dedicated field maintenance person), in other words, "a field biotch":
http://s306.photobucket.com/al...?albumview=slideshow


Now, just about 18 months later after this facility lost their field maintenance guy, look at what this place looked like on September 3, 2008:
http://s306.photobucket.com/al...?albumview=slideshow


Now just about 4 weeks later after the previous field maintenance guy brought the condition of the facility to the attention of JWHS's Athletic Director and Principal ... The Frederick County Park-n-Rec department (Clearbrook division) was called upon to get it cleaned up. Please make note of those areas where grass was killed.

Now would you believe that the Park-n-Rec head guy at Clearbrook Park told the AD at JWHS that the dead grass/brown dirt spots was from black mats being left in the grass. I could not believe the AD was go gullible to believe such a story. Just 4 weeks prior, there was NO evidence of such mats being left in the grass.

IMHO, they Park-n-Rec guys had a sprayer on the field and must of had a leak to explain those dead areas outside the grass edges.
http://s306.photobucket.com/al...?albumview=slideshow


Now, if this not a prime example of what a facility can look like when you have individuals who take the time to put the extra time and TCL into a facility vs. when Park-n-Rec department associates are just doing a job to get it done, then I have no idea what better example there could be.
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When you paint with a broad brush you tend to go way outside the lines. The experience that you describe is your experience. I will agree that there are numerous P & R folks who do not know what they are doing to the level that they should but I can tell you that my experience is that there are way more volunteers who do not do it right.

What you describe is exactly what we face here but in reverse. The park district in most cases goes in and fixes the mess ups of the volunteers.

Like I said your experience is yours and mine is mine and it isn't fair or accurate for either of us to generalize.
quote:
Originally posted by jack sebesta:
When you paint with a broad brush you tend to go way outside the lines. The experience that you describe is your experience. I will agree that there are numerous P & R folks who do not know what they are doing to the level that they should but I can tell you that my experience is that there are way more volunteers who do not do it right.

What you describe is exactly what we face here but in reverse. The park district in most cases goes in and fixes the mess ups of the volunteers.

Like I said your experience is yours and mine is mine and it isn't fair or accurate for either of us to generalize.


Just to clarify, I never said ALL Park-n-Rec departments, I only referenced the local Park-n-Rec in my area. I gave an example of a BEFORE and AFTER.
Coach Milburn great job on the field and congrats to those who worked on it. It looked great before and after but really rough in the middle.

I think we can all agree that there are many stories where volunteers have stepped up to make a dilapidated field much better. And there are many stories where they destroyed a field although their intentions were good. Same can be said for the parks who are in charge of them - some good stories and some bad stories. It is what it is.

If you have a great field then keep it that way and if you have a bad field then fix it.
That is just plain sad! Reminds me years ago when my summer baseball program was allowed to take care of Atholton High School. We felt as though we had one of the finer playing surfaces around. About 10 years ago the county told us we could no longer take care of the field, and if we did they would pull our permit. The field has been a mess ever since.
When I came to my current school 5 yrs ago, the school had the worst field and facilities in the area. The school would not work on the field so it was up to me. Anyway, here is what we have 5yrs down the road. The school pitched in $$$ and we bought the city park and built a new field, playgrounds, locker rooms, etc. Now we have a whole new facility. The parents, players, and coaches do the work to maintain and keep it beautiful. The pics are from last spring during the transition from winter grass to summer grass so the field is not as green as it normally is.....

check out the pic below

Tatum Baseball
Last edited by d8
Our indoor facility is an indoor football field and 6,000 sq.ft. weight room(by-product of having a great football program). We have two cages inside that drop from the ceiling. It is large enough that we can have two full infields working at the same time.

I have a few pics of before and after, but I have not put them on the site yet.

Our outfield fence is metal fencing.

We built a varsity baseball and softball field, youth baseball and softball field, play ground, walking trail, clubhouse for baseball and softball, cons. stand, picnic area, outdoor basketball court, plus all of the other stuff such as paved parking lots, storage building,etc. I think the total cost was around 3mil.
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Awesome indeed! You absolutely did the most with the opportunity to make improvements. Everything you have shown is well deserved. Good job!

Naturally I looked through the photos you posted. I noticed that the player shown in photo no.35 has a nickname the same as mine!

I'm sure Cody earned his nickname because of his prowess on the field. On more than a few occasions his nickname has been used to describe my ample mass. My prowess at the plate, the dinner plate, is how I earned my calorie laden nickname.




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Last edited by gotwood4sale
ts....we are a small rural town of about 1100 people. We are located an hour south west of Shreveport, LA. and/or 2 hrs east of Dallas. Our hs has a little over 400 students. I have coached at larger schools, but I have really enjoyed the small town living. I do not think I will go back to city life.

gotwood....Cody was before my time here, but his brother still works in our district. I too have acquired much more mass than I had in my playing days.....well maybe not that much more, but it has definitely been redistributed.

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