The grass will stay green at another one of G.P. Vanier Secondary School, however that’s because a new field will not actually be made from grass.
According to a request for proposal in July, the CVRD says they are looking for qualified consultants to provide concepts and engineering plans to build a turf field at an existing grass field.
They add the field would be used for a variety of sports, including cricket, soccer, minor baseball, field hockey and rugby. It would be the second turf field at Vanier, after one was installed in 2014 after a 2011 study that suggested a need for the field.
A study done earlier this year suggested that another field should be constructed at the school. CVRD general manager of Community Services Doug Demarzo says a study done again in 2023 revealed a need to another field.
“Adding a second turf field at this time would really help alleviate the pressures and the demands on our sports fields,” said Demarzo. “The demands are around the winter use. Grass fields aren’t able to be used as regularly in the winter.”
Demarzo adds this is because of the amount of rain and drainage limitations that grass fields have, and it depends on year with some grass fields becoming unplayable by November in some years. Considerations such as if the field is lit also must be considered because lighting is expensive.
“If you’re going to provide an expenditure on lighting, you’d want a field that has significant more hours of use,” he said. “An artificial field has significantly higher use hours. Grass fields need recovery time whether they’re well drained or used in the summer.”
Demarzo adds that while a turf field does cost lots of money to build and install, maintenance is relatively low when compared to grass fields as things like mowing are not required. They keep up even when water restrictions mean watering cannot be done.
The field is planned to be installed near the entrance of the school, adjacent to the existing turf field, and not at the track and field oval.
They hope to have it constructed in 2024 and are working out how much it will cost.
