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Local groups held a ribbon-cutting on Wednesday to mark the opening of two new synthetic turf fields. (Photo: NBC Montana)
topics:
Bozeman
Synthetic turf
Sports Park
Ribbon-cutting
Montana Institute of Sport
Playing season
Rugby
Bozeman Parks and Recreation
BOZEMAN, Mont. — Local groups held a ribbon-cutting on Wednesday to mark the opening of two new synthetic turf fields.
As the city continues to grow, the additional space helps accommodate sports like rugby, football, lacrosse and soccer.
“Rugby is obviously the biggest benefactor of that as we see this international standard rugby pitch that’s being put in here, but we don’t want to discount the impact that it’s going to have on soccer and our existing programs in the soccer community, but also to our lacrosse and then multi-sport athletes as well, so track and field,” said JD Stephenson, CEO, Montana Institute of Sport.
With rainy and snowy days ahead, NBC Montana spoke with the director of Bozeman Parks and Recreation about how the new turf fields can help extend the playing season compared to grass fields.
“We groom that infield and make sure it’s nice and can retain that softness that the natural grass does, but the playability and in not only hours of play but extending the seasons, so early season, when in the spring while the natural grass fields there the grass isn’t growing yet, it’ll turn into a mud pit and it’ll take a long, long time to rejuvenate it, you can use the synthetic turf,” said Bozeman Parks and Recreation director Mitch Overton.
Partners including the city of Bozeman, Bozeman School District Seven, the Montana Institute of Sports, and community donors invested $5 million dollars to help keep these fields maintained and support other park developments, like sports lighting.
Stephenson also spoke about what the future vision of sports looks like for the city.
“We see this being the marquee field and the marquee selling point for bringing teams from both in the U.S. and abroad coming here to beautiful Bozeman, Montana,” said Stephenson.
For more information about field reservations and park facilities, click here.
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