By Pepper Fisher
PORT ANGELES – The Port Angeles School District announced Wednesday the Opening Day Ceremony of the brand new Monroe Playfield is set for Saturday, October 28th at 9:00am.
The new multi-sport field, next to Roosevelt Elementary School, is unlike any other facility in Port Angeles. The synthetic turf, with a layer of soft padding underneath, will ensure year-round playability for football, soccer, baseball and other sports, and is expected to improve the competitive level of the district’s athletes.
It came with a hefty price tag. Local contractors Bruch and Bruch Construction had the low bid of $620,000 to do the civil work and Fieldturf USA installed the synthetic turf for a little over $1.1 million, for a total project cost of a little over $1.75 million. But District Maintenance Director Nolan Duce says the new field is expected to save a lot of money over the long term when compared to the maintenance costs of the district’s grass fields.
“With sports fields, you’re putting in a lot of labor in, and with that labor you’re also paying benefits. And so, when you look at the labor and benefits and then the water, huge amount of work to keep it green, to keep it looking good, and keep it in shape. We don’t have enough fields to support the use that we put on them. And so, there’s times where they just get tore up and we have to close them up.”
Besides the beautiful new sports field, the park-like setting includes paved walking paths, metal bleachers, sloped grassy areas for extra seating, parking and ADA access.
The ceremony will begin with a ribbon-cutting with district Superintendent Marty Brewer, School Board President Sarah Methner, Maintenance & Facilities Director Nolan Duce, and Bruch and Bruch Project Manager Sean Coleman. They’ve scheduled a presentation of colors led by Port Angeles High School Navy Jr. ROTC, and the National Anthem will be performed by the Port Angeles High School Band.
Afterward, the new field will host local league soccer games throughout the day, starting at 9:15.