SANTEE’S NEW TURF FIELDS READY FOR ACTION

By Mike Allen

October 16, 2024 (Santee) -- At least four Santee sports groups including the local Pop Warner club, the Ravens, and youth soccer teams will soon get to experience the newly installed synthetic turf fields at Town Center Community Park.

The two new fields that feature lines for both football and soccer and can accommodate lacrosse were recently installed after an unusually long delay from having to wait to be adequately dry after a wet spring.

Stephanie Price, a member of the Santee Park and Recreation Committee (SPARC), was happy to see the brand new turf at the Oct. 10 dedication ceremony that took some six months to install due to the drying out time.

“I think the fields look marvelous and it was worth the wait,” Price said. “This is a win-win for everybody.”

City Manager Marlene Best, who accompanied a group of Santee city employees at the ceremony, insisted the $1 million- plus price tag for the turf replacement was not excessive.

“No, it wasn’t (overpriced),” she said. “Not with the price of things these days.”

The former turf fields were in terrible shape and had gone well beyond their 10-year expected lifespan so this was a necessary expense, Best said.

Along with a smattering of city employees and elected officials the field dedication was attended by several dozen students from nearby Rio Seco School.

Photo: Councilman Rob McNelis, Supervisor Joel Anderson, Mayor John Minto and Councilman Dustin Trotter along with students from Rio Seco School.

While the primary use for the synthetic fields are by organized youth sports leagues and adult leagues, they are open to any group for reservation through the city’s Park and Recreation Department. The cost for their use isn’t cheap with the per hour cost for residents set at $40, and for non-residents at $79.

But folks who may want to just kick around a soccer ball or have a three-on-three touch football game can do so without shelling out anything, Best says. Just make sure you’re not scheduling the time when the fields are already reserved.

Also, make sure you’re abiding by the rules the city has set to ensure the fields last at least for another 10 years. These include not bringing any sports drinks, or anything other than water on the fields; not using gum or sunflower seeds nor any other food while playing; and not allowing any pets on the fields.

Mayor John Minto emceed the ribbon cutting duties after a delay caused when Supervisor Joel Anderson went to the wrong city park.

Santee has many nice parks, “and I toured a lot of parks on the way here,” Anderson said.

Minto noted the hefty cost was offset somewhat by a $100,000 grant from San Diego County facilitated by Anderson, and $31,000 in donations by local sports leagues.

He agreed that the results were outstanding. “(The fields) are very nice- looking, to say the least,” he said.