Vancouver's New Artificial Turf Play Field Officially Opens Thursday, June 22^nd at 3:30 pm

June 19, 2006 (No. 42) - Vancouver Park Board and the Vancouver School Board  officials along with school and community sport groups will officially open the new Point Grey Secondary School/Kerrisdale Park Artificial Turf Playing Field this Thursday, June 22nd at 3:30 pm. The opening will feature speeches by Commissioners and Trustees, a kick-off, brief soccer exhibitions and refreshments. The field is located half on School Board property and half on parkland at East Boulevard just north of West 41st Avenue in Kerrisdale.

This 10,000 square metre, monofilament polyethylene fiber surface is in-filled with recycled crumb rubber to provide better shock absorbency. It is 6mm in height, mimics grass and is the latest advancement in artificial turf. The field also sports four state-of-the-art lighting masts making play possible after dark minimizing glare and light spillage to the surrounding area. The field is designed to accommodate soccer, field hockey, rugby and ultimate, rain or shine.

Cost for the new field was $1.8 million and included extensive site work, drainage, lighting and fencing. It was paid for through the Park Board Capital Plan. This is the first of six artificial play fields planned for the city. The Park Board recently approved the next field for Vancouver Technical Secondary School on the east side.

The new artificial turf field, which has five times more capacity than natural turf, will be shared between the school's weekday usage and Park Board field bookings for evening and weekend games and days during the summer months. The Park Board has two existing Astroturf-style fields at Eric Hamber Secondary School and at Andy Livingstone Park.

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Contact: Terri Clark, Communication Coordinator, at 604-257-8438.

The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation maintains 200 parks and 40 major facilities throughout the City of Vancouver. The Park Board's mission is to provide, preserve and advocate for parks and recreation services to benefit people, communities and the environment.

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