February 2010

Sports Fields Honored with Awards

The Sports Turf Managers Association awarded nine outstanding facilities with its STMA Field of the Year Award recently. The STMA Field of the Year Award program began in 1992. Five field types may be awarded: Baseball, Football, Soccer, Softball and Sporting Grounds. For each field type, awards may be given in three categories: Professional, College and University or Schools and Parks.

The winners include:

• Baseball: Brian Blanton of McNair Field in Forest City, N.C. (Schools and Parks); and Garrett Reddehase of Whataburger Field in Corpus Christi, Texas (Professional)
• Football: Stephen Crockett, CSFM, of War Memorial Stadium Field in Union City, Tenn. (Schools and Parks); and Allen Johnson, CFSM, of Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. (Professional)
• Soccer: Joshua Koss of SDJA Field at San Diego Jewish Academy in San Diego, Calif. (Schools and Parks); and Jay Griggs of Community America Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan. (Professional)
• Softball: Marc Moran of Atlee High School Varsity Softball Field in Mechanicsville, Va. (Schools and Parks); and George Marshall of Patricia Wilson Field at Stetson University in DeLand, Fla. (College)
• Sporting Grounds: Josh Bertrand of Infinity Park in Glendale, Colo. (Schools and Parks)

A panel of seven judges independently scored each entry based on the playability and appearance of the playing surfaces, innovative solutions employed, effective use of budget, and the development and implementation of a comprehensive, sound agronomic program.

The awards committee includes Chair Martin Kaufman, CSFM; Jason Bowers, CSFM; Patrick Coakley, CSFM; Andrew Gossel; Lance Tibbetts, CSFM; and Tim VanLoo, CSFM.

STMA is a nonprofit professional association for men and women who manage sports fields. Its more than 2,500 members oversee sports fields and facilities at schools, colleges and universities, parks and recreational facilities, and professional sports stadiums.

Want to make sure your sports field is a standout? Check out our story in the February issue, "Breaking Ground: Making the Most of Your Sports Fields," online at www.recmanagement.com. Learn more about STMA by visiting www.stma.org.