Fireworks damage repaired at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex

| West Seattle fires | West Seattle news | WS & Sports

(Sunday photo courtesy Brandon Sparks)

Sometime last weekend, before Sunday’s Junction FC match, people setting off fireworks did damage to the synthetic turf at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex. The field was cleared for play, but Seattle Public Schools had to fix the damage. We inquired with the district Monday morning about the damage and the repair plan, and finally received a reply this afternoon:

Seattle Public Schools aimed to prevent issues like this by activating the LED field lights (low-energy bulbs) from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. from July 3 through July 7. Despite these efforts, turf damage still occurred. Repairs to the synthetic turf at the Nino Cantu SW Athletic Complex were completed on July 8. This damage did not require us to close the field or cancel events.

Our security department welcomes any tips regarding the damage. If you have information, please contact 206-252-0707.

The field is used by private groups as well as area schools. Junction FC, meantime, has the final home matches of its season on Friday and Sunday (we’ll have more on that tonight).

ST July 11, 2024 (5:09 pm)

I’m not sure if this problem requires a technical or social solution. Enough people don’t seem to regard the field as flammable, so social solutions haven’t worked perfectly. Enhanced fencing options could prevent future damage. Do we want to spend extra money on additional fencing to protect our fields given the other things we could spend money on?

Jeepney July 11, 2024 (5:18 pm)

Guess leaving the lights on until 11pm didn’t deter people lighting off explosives.

Stephen July 11, 2024 (5:40 pm)

gates aren’t a magical deterrent but you can at least start by locking the parking lot that shares this field on thistle.

Hi July 11, 2024 (6:35 pm)

Im not 100% sure but im pretty confident that the parking lot you’re referring to isn’t actually part of SWAC, so it isn’t up to SPS if that gate is locked.