$2.9M Kasch Park makeover will convert fields to multi-sport use

EVERETT — The ballfields at Kasch Park will be getting a makeover this summer.

The city plans to convert two soccer fields at the south Everett park into flexible fields that can host multiple sports. The third field was converted in 2012.

The renovations, which involve relining the fields and changing the goal posts, will allow the fields to be used for boys and girls lacrosse (each of which has a different size field), ultimate frisbee and flag football in addition to soccer.

At the same time, the city parks department plans to install a new drainage system, LED lighting, nets between the fields to stop errant balls and replace the artificial turf on all three fields.

All that work will take the fields out of commission for most of the summer.

“Our plan is to mobilize the contractor about May 16 and be complete and ready to open Labor Day weekend,” said John Peterson, assistant director of Everett’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services.

The City Council on Wednesday awarded the $2.9 million contract to Premier Field Development Inc. in Snohomish.

The summer actually is the time when the sports fields are used the least, said Lori Cummings, the city parks director.

That because schools aren’t in session (and therefore their ballfields are available), grass fields are dry and usable, and many youth sports teams travel to away games, freeing up more capacity, she said.

The three fields have artificial turf that was installed in 2001 and only had a lifespan of 8-10 years. With good maintenance, that can be extended to about 15 years, Peterson said.

The turf includes an underlying layer of material known as crumb rubber, which is made from ground-up tires.

The material gives the turf more spring, but it’s come under fire lately because of a number of University of Washington athletes who played on the synthetic fields and later developed cancer.

Fears that the material might be connected to the cancer prompted the city of Edmonds to issue a moratorium on crumb rubber fields until mid-2017. Federal and state governmental agencies are also conducting studies of the substance.

Preliminary results of one crumb rubber study at seven locations nationwide has found the fields to be safe, however. One of the test locations was at the Boys &Girls Club of Everett.

Objections persist, and at least one person wrote to the city expressing concern about replacing the Kasch Park fields with more crumb rubber turf.

“The best available science to date does not show a risk with the use of the product,” Peterson told the council March 30.

Councilwoman Cassie Franklin responded that she was hesitant to use the product before studies under way by the state and federal government were complete. She said she would at least want signs to be installed at the fields informing parents the material was present.

Before the vote Wednesday, many representatives of youth sports leagues urged the council to move ahead and approve the plan for the park.

“The only way to study cancer is to have 10-plus years in studies that are well-controlled,” said Andrew Serafini, an attorney who also has a Ph.D. in immunology, and who is the board president of the Washington Rush Soccer Club.

“You can’t base it on anecdotal data,” Serafini said.

Franklin was absent from the Wednesday meeting and was not part of the 5-0 vote in favor of moving forward with the contract. Council President Scott Murphy was also absent.

Chris Winters: 425-374-4165; cwinters@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @Chris_At_Herald.