alafarmnews

“If You Build It,
They Will Come”
Morgan Co. Soccer Fields

by Grace Smith

"If you build it, they will come." The motto worked for one Iowa family in the movie "Field of Dreams," and now it’s worked for the Decatur Parks and Recreation department.

"People asked me why we decided to build these soccer fields and I told them, ‘if

Last season the Mexican Women Nationals were held at the Jack Allen Recreational Complex. The event packed the facilities and brought much revenue to the city of Decatur.

The Jack Allen Recreational Complex features certified 419 bermuda grass that is used specifically for athletic activities and 50 and 60 candle foot lights for television quality lighting.

Jeff Dunlap, Decatur Parks and Recreation director, said the city’s mayor and council decided they wanted a large park in the southwest area of the city seven years ago. They had the money to purchase the property and they proceeded to develop a conceptual plan for the facility. At that time they were only able to build an entrance and one field, but received pressure from the mayor and council to continue.

The complex gave the Park and Recreation Department more control over the project. Soon after, the department began visiting other soccer facilities around the state and met with an architect to decide exactly how their complex would look.

"Jack Allen was a noble man in the community who served on the city council and was really proactive for the parks and recreation department," Lowman said.

The 26-acre plot accommodates 11 international size fields, parking for 1,200 vehicles and a public pavilion between the fields.

The 11 international size soccer fields may seem unnecessary for Decatur, a town of only about 54,000 residents. However, the new facility has drawn quite a crowd to this Alabama town. Last season, the park hosted the Mexican Women Nationals utilizing most of the fields and packing the bleachers.

Another exciting event held at the new complex was a college showcase featuring

A pavilion rests in between the fields giving visitors easy access to concessions and restrooms. There is also an office on the second floor of the quaint building.

15 universities including four Southeastern Conference schools. This event gave coaches the chance to scope out athletes for Olympic competitions.

Dunlap said the facilities are used almost everyday especially in the spring and fall. He said students come to the fields after school so the complex is heavily used from about 4 to 11.

You may wonder why this park stays so busy and draws the caliber of talent it has seen. The turf is certified 419 bermuda that is used specifically for athletic fields. The fields are laser leveled to ensure their proportionality and are not tiered so different size fields can be created. They are also irrigated and have a subgrade drainage system. The lighting system features television quality 50 and 60 candle footlights. The lighting is said to be better than any such complex in the Southeastern United States.

Maintaining a facility of this magnitude requires much work. Dunlap said there are three aspects to upkeep on the complex. One includes a crew performing general maintenance like mowing, weed eating and blowing. Another aspect is turf care like fertilization, weed spraying and top dressing. The last aspect is Dunlap deciding when maintenance will take place.

Paul Floyd, facilities and operations director for the Decatur Parks and Recreation said he uses a fertilizer on the turf that contains Polyon that has a super slow release formula, releasing nitrogen each week throughout the summer. He said he also uses urea, lime and herbicides like MSMA, Revolver and Manner.

Justin Brown, assistant manager of the Morgan County Farmers Cooperative in Decatur, said that although he’s only been working at the store for about a year, the records show the Decatur Parks and Recreation Department has been doing business with them for about five or six years.

"They are one of our biggest accounts," Brown said. "They buy everything from acephate (insect control) to wire. They also buy wire clamps, fertilizer and bags of seed if they have a burnt spot on the fields."

Lowman said their department has received many positive comments on their soccer fields and they had not received a single complaint. She said Scott Spencer, Alabama director of coaching, encouraged the department to fashion their soccer facility after those of Disney’s World of Sports complex. But she said after he visited their complex, Spencer told them Disney’s fields paled in comparison to their new fields.

Lowman said athletes competing in the President’s Cup Regional Championships were so impressed with the fields they took off their cleats and asked permission just to touch it.

They’ve built it and now the people have come. The department’s hard work has already paid off and they anticipate an even better season this year. Through their foresight and planning, the city of Decatur now has its very own ‘Field of Dreams.’

Grace Smith is an AFC intern.