FOLLOWUP: Hiawatha Playfield turf work to start next week, city says

The Hiawatha Playfield turf-replacement project was supposed to start in mid-May. But it didn’t. We got an update this afternoon from Seattle Parks:

Seattle Parks and Recreation begins construction for the Hiawatha Playfield turf replacement project on Monday, June 12, and estimates completion of the project in September 2023. SPR awarded the construction contract to FieldTurf USA Inc.

This project will replace the aging synthetic turf at Hiawatha Playfield and provide markings for baseball, soccer, football and softball. Seattle Public Schools will provide safety fencing for the outfield when baseball and softball are in play. This project will include replacing the batting cage and resurfacing the rubberized three-lane running track. View the Layout Plan here.

Online documents indicate FieldTurf USA won the contract – in a second round of bidding (they also won the first) – with a $1.4 million bid. As for the community center and play-area projects, a Parks manager provided updates at last month’s Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting.

ACG June 7, 2023 (9:06 pm)

We heard that Delridge is also up for getting the turf re-done. Does anyone know if that field replacement will also be occurring during this timeframe?

WSB June 7, 2023 (9:23 pm)

We’ve reported on that project a couple times. A month ago Parks told us the two would likely overlap for about six weeks.
https://westseattleblog.com/2023/05/followup-two-west-seattle-playfield-turf-project-likely-to-overlap/
will have to check if that’s still a valid estimate since Hiawatha hasn’t started yet.
- ACG June 7, 2023 (10:56 pm)
  
  Thanks, WSB!!

Admiral June 8, 2023 (8:47 am)

Very disappointed in the city for delaying this project just enough so it can be the most disruptive it can possibly be to the 75-80 West Seattle high school football players and entire Junior wildcats program. It will be incredibly challenging logistically for the students and parents, especially given Sealth practices at SWAC and other fields with football lines are scarce. Extremely poor scheduling, but just so typical. Makes complete sense for the field to be torn up and disrupting the rest of the park for the busy summer months too, right?

Dooh June 8, 2023 (9:59 am)

Well considering this work has to be done during the summer months, there really isn’t much else they can do. It isn’t going to work with everyone’s schedule, but it needs to be done.
WestSeattleBadTakes June 8, 2023 (10:37 am)

Makes complete sense for the field to be torn up and disrupting the rest of the park for the busy summer months too, right?

From a quality of work and conditions perspective, most likely yes.
- Admiral June 8, 2023 (11:50 am)
  
  Why? This must be the only construction project that can’t be done in rain. My high school in central Ohio put in a turf field in winter while the ground was frozen and periodically covered in snow. Same configuration with a turf baseball diamond with a football/soccer field in the outfield. It also didn’t take 3 months. And neither snow that sticks nor frozen ground is common from November – March in Seattle.
  
  This is a decision that puts the West Seattle high school students, Junior Wildcats football players, and the children and families who use the park during the summer LAST. If any department is focused on facilitating things for children and their families shouldn’t it be Parks?
- Frog June 8, 2023 (11:57 am)
  
  Meanwhile, they have been diddling on the Madison MS field forever. That was originally going to be done long ago, and would have helped to ease the field crunch.
my two cents June 8, 2023 (6:15 pm)

Just “when” should it be done? Soccer season? Baseball season? Track & Field? You are right, the needs of the football team far outweigh any other user of the park/facility – is that what you advocating? Too bad we can’t attempt to generate actual solutions as opposed to complaining about it.

Admiral-2009 June 8, 2023 (9:41 am)

The SD is in the process of installing a new practice facility on the south side of WSHS. It appears to be a lack of communication between the SD and Seattle Parks Department. Why not delay the Hiawatha turf project until after the SD project is completed?

bradley June 9, 2023 (8:01 pm)

That’s just batting cages for the baseball and softball teams. The neighbors must be excited about that Ping!! Ping!! Ping!!

bradley June 9, 2023 (8:00 pm)

Why do they make the soccer fields so narrow in West Seattle? Looking at the 10 yard corner mark inside the penalty area, a more generous location is the 10 yard mark outside the penalty area. It could have been easily designed, but they don’t do sports. And if your talking about disruption, how about 3 major use fields being taken down at one time? Why not spread it out,

Sorry, comment time is over.