By Steve Plunkett

Fields at a park being built in Boca Raton will have natural grass, not artificial turf, despite the stated goal of city officials to install turf to save money and increase playing time.

The Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District decided in June to stick with grass at DeHoernle Park, under construction on Spanish River Boulevard west of Interstate 95. The 3-2 vote followed a report that, rather than saving money, turf would cost an additional $100,000 over 10 years.

Beach and Park District Attorney Art Koski and Executive Director Bob Langford recomputed city figures that estimated annual savings of $339,000 to include the $2.1 million initial cost of turf.

“There is no discernible financial advantage in utilization of artificial surfaces,” Koski concluded.

Beach and Park Commissioner Earl Starkoff said he had studied the natural-vs.-artificial issue for more than 10 years and there were other considerations besides turf’s lower operating and maintenance costs.

Particularly troublesome in South Florida, he said, was the manufacturer’s statement that reflective heat makes grass fields almost 10 degrees hotter but boosts turf temperatures 20 degrees.

“The irrigation systems will cool down the field for about 15 minutes of play time,” Starkoff said. “So I don’t find that an acceptable solution.”

Commissioner Robert Rollins agreed that temperature was an issue.

“I don’t know how many of those folks [at City Council] have gone to Dade County and stepped on one of those fields at noon as I did and found there was just one player out there and he could hardly wait to get off because his feet were burning from the heat,” Rollins said.

He said he also worried about children and referees having more ankle injuries on artificial fields.

“When you put your foot down and you turn, your foot stays there,” Rollins said.

At their joint meeting in May, Boca Raton Council members emphasized their desire to have artificial turf installed at DeHoernle Park. City parks officials say turf saves water and the fields do not have to be periodically closed for re-sodding.

The city has two soccer fields with artificial turf at Sand Pine Park, at 300 Newcastle St.; Boca Raton High School and Florida Atlantic University also have turf fields.

Brian and Don Clinton, co-founders of the Boca Jets Lacrosse league, had lobbied to have turf put in DeHoernle. Their teams travel to the South County Regional Park west of U.S. 441 to find available fields.

“There is limited opportunity and resources to develop additional ball fields within the community,”  Don Clinton said. “If the wrong decision is made on Spanish River, we will lose this golden opportunity.”                        Ú

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