Get Herald RSSThe practice fields behind the Olney-Margolies Athletic Center, once a drainage disaster, were replaced over the summer with turf fields. They were also given stadium-style lighting and have been open to varsity, intramural and club teams since the beginning of the fall season. The new turf fields have received mixed reactions from Brown's teams.
Despite a small problem with the manufacture of the turf material, the installation process went smoothly, said Todd Phelps, assistant director of athletics for operations.
Though the fields were not finished by the originally planned Aug. 15 completion date and were not ready when football preseason started Aug. 19, the football team was able to practice on the preexisting turf field, and the new fields were ready shortly thereafter.
The functionality of the old grass fields was completely contingent on weather. When it was dry, the fields were extremely dusty and hard, while on rainy days they were swamp-like, Phelps said.
"There were a lot of concerns over injury, so we had to limit the fields' use, which hurt us overall," he said.
Additionally, the need to frequently line the grass fields was a maintenance and cost issue. On the new turf, lines are permanently sewn into the field. Furthermore, the grass fields needed to be cut regularly - a problem solved with the introduction of turf.
The new fields were made financially possible by alumni gifts, and there was no trouble with the budget, Phelps said.
Not everyone views the new fields with the same enthusiasm, however. Women's rugby player Alex Hartley '10 said the new fields mean longer - and more painful - practices.
"Practice tends to run later because of the lights, and playing rugby on turf hurts a lot more than on grass," she said. "You get scraped up and burned a lot more easily, and it's not as nice to fall on. We aren't wearing pads like the football players do."
Different equipment is also required for the artificial surface. "Rugby boots are made for grass, not turf," Hartley said.
Another complaint of the women's rugby team concerned the field's turf beads, tiny ground-up pieces of rubber that preserve the elasticity of the field in frosty conditions. "They fly up in your face and get in your mouthguard," Hartley said.
Hartley conceded some advantages, though. The smoother terrain means there is no risk of potholes, which can injure athletes, especially those with weak ankles. Hartley also recognized the weather benefits. "It's nice to practice after it rains without being completely drenched in mud," she said.
Football player Jimmy Tull '08 also said he prefers playing on grass, though he was quicker to cite the benefits of the turf fields.
"In general, I prefer playing on grass. For me it's just a better football experience," he said. "But it's really nice to have a turf field when the weather comes into play."
Tull said the longevity of the turf fields is also a major benefit. Previously, practicing after or during a rainstorm would destroy the old fields for the rest of the season because the grass never had time to regrow. The new lights are much more effective than the old ones, he said, making nighttime practices much more feasible.
"These new fields just open up a lot more opportunities for us," Tull said.
There will be a dedication of the new fields on Nov. 11.
"These fields are a huge benefit to the entire Brown community," Phelps said. "There's just so many things we're going to be able to do out there which will be great for everyone."
