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Lakewood field is not safe, boosters say
By JON WILSON, Times Staff Writer ST. PETERSBURG -- Lakewood High School's football team is considered among Pinellas County's showcase squads -- but the field where players practice remains a menace, boosters and coaches say. Last season, newly laid Bahia sod created uneven terrain and hid potholes. It was ankle-threatening turf, especially for fast backs and receivers used to making quick cuts on stable ground. County school officials said to give the turf time, that it would evolve into a better condition. But it hasn't happened, say Lakewood boosters. "It's better," Lakewood football coach Brian Bruch said about the practice field. "They've made an attempt to fix it. But it's not a usable surface." The football team has been practicing on the outfield of the city-operated Lake Vista baseball fields, Bruch said. The school's rough practice field also poses problems for Lakewood's soccer teams, whose seasons start in late fall. "You can't pass or dribble soccer balls on it. As a football player you can't run without worrying about falling or twisting an ankle," said Tom Borschel, soccer booster club member. Borschel and football booster president Greg Seay believe school district officials give short shrift to Lakewood. "The issue more than anything is, be fair to everyone," Seay said. "If this is a north-county school, would the situation be still going on? I don't think so. We have to scream and yell and shout to get things right for the kids. We shouldn't have to do all this we're going through to rectify the situation." Dan Morgan, a Hillsborough County agronomist who has done turf work for St. Petersburg Country Club and Tampa Sports Authority, studied the Lakewood situation for the school's boosters. "What it comes down to is Bahia grass," Morgan said. "It's drought-resistant . . . it's very coarse, but it is not a good playing grass." Bermuda grass, said Morgan, is preferable. He said schools in Hillsborough have started using Bermuda, which is considered more suitable for such activities as running or dribbling soccer balls and is thought to be more durable. It is also less likely to trip athletes or turn an ankle. But Bermuda is more expensive, said Bob Hosack, activities director for Pinellas County schools. Bahia is "the standard we put at all the schools. That's the (specification) written several years ago, and updated frequently," Hosack said. "Palm Harbor is an exception and nobody knows how that got in the (specification)," he said. Largo High School also has Bermuda on its practice field. School boosters paid for it, he said. An informal survey Tuesday showed most of the county's 16 public high schools use Bahia on their practice fields. It's not immediately clear what will be done to help Lakewood. Morgan, boosters and school district maintenance supervisors have discussed a Bermuda project at Lakewood, although it has hit a sticking point. "One of the driving forces is the maintenance," said Fred Ulrich, Lakewood's new principal. "They don't want to put down however much money this would cost without making sure we could take care of it." One question that has emerged is whether the city can provide enough reclaimed water pressure to assure good irrigation. Water systems manager Joe Towery said the department will work with the school. "We'd be more than glad to sit down," Towery said. "There are things we can do. Maybe a well system or surface water in the vicinity. There are some options, which might require some design modifications to the existing system." Ulrich said he plans to be aggressive in pursuing the Bermuda project, and if it comes to pass, zealous in maintaining the new sod. "If it can happen, it will happen," he said, cautioning that a Bermuda field might not be installed immediately. "In a perfect world, we're looking at next season," he said.
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From the Times South Pinellas desks |
