City Installs Synthetic Field at Whitemarsh Park

The athletic field at Whitemarsh Park in Bowie is getting a face lift.

The once grass field is in the process of being covered by artificial turf in an effort to extent the field’s usability by multiple sports and through multiple seasons.

“It just provides greater opportunity for play and extends time on the field than what they could have had without it,” said City Manager David Deutsch of the synthetic turf field, adding it will be lined for lacrosse, soccer and football.

The city installed artificial turf at the field in Allen Pond Park about three years ago, and Deutsch said it has been a success.

The council set aside funds to turf the Whitemarsh Park field last year. The entire process of grading the land, laying the turf and lining the field will cost just under $900,000, though the was able to obtain a state grant to offset about $150,000 of the cost, Deutsch said.

The field should last about ten years, and replacement costs will only be at about 30 to 50 percent of the original cost of the field, said Deutsch, since the initial grading will have already been completed, and the field will likely only need to be replaced a bit at a time.  

When the time to replace the turf nears, the city will begin reserving funds in advance of the replacement.

The synthetic turf is expected to be fully installed at Whitemarsh Park by mid-March.