WEBVTT
00:00:08.480 --> 00:00:12.880
Hi, this is Chris Leiner, Executive Director of the Northbrook Park District.
00:00:13.039 --> 00:00:14.960
Welcome to Northbrook in 90 Plus.
00:00:15.119 --> 00:00:23.600
This companion podcast for our video series invites listeners to delve deeper into the episode as we explore what's happening at the Northbrook Park District.
00:00:30.079 --> 00:00:35.280
Hi, I'm Mary Shea, Superintendent of Athletics and Fitness at the Northbrook Park District.
00:00:35.520 --> 00:00:42.320
Spring is here, which means we get to open our athletic fields for the enjoyment of everyone who plays baseball, softball, and soccer.
00:00:42.560 --> 00:00:50.880
We know that in the past, field conditions weren't always optimal, and we received that feedback, particularly from the baseball and softball community.
00:00:51.119 --> 00:00:58.240
We took that to heart, and over the last couple of years, have made improving our fields a major area of focus.
00:00:58.560 --> 00:01:07.280
Our parks and recreation staff are working more closely than ever to monitor field conditions and communicate promptly when intervention is needed.
00:01:07.920 --> 00:01:17.760
Most importantly, we have stepped up our proactive efforts and worked with a consultant to produce a comprehensive field and court assessment in August 2024.
00:01:18.079 --> 00:01:27.840
This document has strategically guided our approach as we invest resources and staff time at Techne Prairie Park and Fields and elsewhere throughout the park district.
00:01:28.079 --> 00:01:33.599
Ground Supervisor Chris Ryerson will now share more about the progress of these improvements.
00:01:54.640 --> 00:01:56.799
2025 was our biggest year so far.
00:01:56.959 --> 00:02:07.359
We regraded our fields, eliminated lips, and added clay, and switched to a higher quality calcine clay so fields perform better and can better withstand changes in the weather.
00:02:07.599 --> 00:02:12.000
We are also using a soil additive that helps regulate the field moisture levels.
00:02:12.159 --> 00:02:18.159
Basically, it's like kitty litter that absorbs rainwater and then slowly releases it back as the clay dries out.
00:02:18.319 --> 00:02:24.639
When we started two years ago, we distributed 21 tons of this additive, basically a whole semi-truck across our 24 fields.
00:02:24.800 --> 00:02:31.039
We also began to incorporate surfactants, a compound that basically allows water to flow better through the soil.
00:02:31.280 --> 00:02:35.439
So far, we have used this in about half of our fields with good results.
00:02:35.759 --> 00:02:43.360
These combined efforts are paying off because last year we were happy to see that we canceled fewer games than on average.
00:02:52.879 --> 00:03:05.039
Thanks to the park district's increased staff and infrastructure investments over the last two to three seasons, we have definitely seen improvements in many fields with higher quality playing surface and better drainage.
00:03:05.280 --> 00:03:11.759
In fact, we do a participant survey at the end of each year, and the last survey gave positive feedback about this.
00:03:12.000 --> 00:03:16.960
We look forward to seeing even more improvements to the park district's baseball facilities in the future.
00:03:17.280 --> 00:03:28.240
Our goal is to grow kids' involvement in baseball, and I'm quite happy that the park district is a great partner in this, and having the best facilities makes the sport more attractive to our community.
00:03:33.439 --> 00:03:37.439
I'm Melissa Degnan, president of Northbrook Girls Softball Association.
00:03:37.680 --> 00:03:44.639
It's been great for Northbrook Girls Softball Association to see improvements to the quality of the park district fields over the last two years.
00:03:44.879 --> 00:03:49.599
For example, we used to have to wait two days to get back on the field after heavy rain.
00:03:49.840 --> 00:03:52.400
Now we can return to playing much earlier.
00:03:52.639 --> 00:03:57.120
Our players also have noticed a difference in the quality of the fields after the improvements.
00:03:57.280 --> 00:04:05.360
They have made positive comments about the appearance of the fields and the leveling from dirt to grass between the infield and outfield, which really helps their game.
00:04:05.599 --> 00:04:13.919
Overall, we know that the park district is committed to providing a great environment for softball, which we are really happy about and fully support.
00:04:19.439 --> 00:04:30.160
One of our strengths at the North Park Park District is the breadth of our athletic programming, and we are focused on continuing to improve our field conditions for the benefit of our community.
00:04:30.480 --> 00:04:36.480
Our stepped-up investment is producing results, which gives us great satisfaction.
00:04:36.720 --> 00:04:43.920
For one, opening day has become smoother, and everyone looks forward to the upcoming seasons with excitement.
00:04:44.160 --> 00:04:50.959
Of course, the work isn't done yet, and we absolutely look forward to continuing to show results in the coming seasons.
00:04:51.600 --> 00:04:56.480
District staff members are looking forward to sharing more news and updates with you through this new series.
00:04:56.639 --> 00:05:01.120
To get notified when we release our next episode, be sure to subscribe to our podcast.
00:05:01.279 --> 00:05:04.240
Thanks for listening to this episode of Northbrook in 90.
00:00:08.480 --> 00:00:12.880
Hi, this is Chris Leiner, Executive Director of the Northbrook Park District.
00:00:13.039 --> 00:00:14.960
Welcome to Northbrook in 90 Plus.
00:00:15.119 --> 00:00:23.600
This companion podcast for our video series invites listeners to delve deeper into the episode as we explore what's happening at the Northbrook Park District.
00:00:30.079 --> 00:00:35.280
Hi, I'm Mary Shea, Superintendent of Athletics and Fitness at the Northbrook Park District.
00:00:35.520 --> 00:00:42.320
Spring is here, which means we get to open our athletic fields for the enjoyment of everyone who plays baseball, softball, and soccer.
00:00:42.560 --> 00:00:50.880
We know that in the past, field conditions weren't always optimal, and we received that feedback, particularly from the baseball and softball community.
00:00:51.119 --> 00:00:58.240
We took that to heart, and over the last couple of years, have made improving our fields a major area of focus.
00:00:58.560 --> 00:01:07.280
Our parks and recreation staff are working more closely than ever to monitor field conditions and communicate promptly when intervention is needed.
00:01:07.920 --> 00:01:17.760
Most importantly, we have stepped up our proactive efforts and worked with a consultant to produce a comprehensive field and court assessment in August 2024.
00:01:18.079 --> 00:01:27.840
This document has strategically guided our approach as we invest resources and staff time at Techne Prairie Park and Fields and elsewhere throughout the park district.
00:01:28.079 --> 00:01:33.599
Ground Supervisor Chris Ryerson will now share more about the progress of these improvements.
00:01:54.640 --> 00:01:56.799
2025 was our biggest year so far.
00:01:56.959 --> 00:02:07.359
We regraded our fields, eliminated lips, and added clay, and switched to a higher quality calcine clay so fields perform better and can better withstand changes in the weather.
00:02:07.599 --> 00:02:12.000
We are also using a soil additive that helps regulate the field moisture levels.
00:02:12.159 --> 00:02:18.159
Basically, it's like kitty litter that absorbs rainwater and then slowly releases it back as the clay dries out.
00:02:18.319 --> 00:02:24.639
When we started two years ago, we distributed 21 tons of this additive, basically a whole semi-truck across our 24 fields.
00:02:24.800 --> 00:02:31.039
We also began to incorporate surfactants, a compound that basically allows water to flow better through the soil.
00:02:31.280 --> 00:02:35.439
So far, we have used this in about half of our fields with good results.
00:02:35.759 --> 00:02:43.360
These combined efforts are paying off because last year we were happy to see that we canceled fewer games than on average.
00:02:52.879 --> 00:03:05.039
Thanks to the park district's increased staff and infrastructure investments over the last two to three seasons, we have definitely seen improvements in many fields with higher quality playing surface and better drainage.
00:03:05.280 --> 00:03:11.759
In fact, we do a participant survey at the end of each year, and the last survey gave positive feedback about this.
00:03:12.000 --> 00:03:16.960
We look forward to seeing even more improvements to the park district's baseball facilities in the future.
00:03:17.280 --> 00:03:28.240
Our goal is to grow kids' involvement in baseball, and I'm quite happy that the park district is a great partner in this, and having the best facilities makes the sport more attractive to our community.
00:03:33.439 --> 00:03:37.439
I'm Melissa Degnan, president of Northbrook Girls Softball Association.
00:03:37.680 --> 00:03:44.639
It's been great for Northbrook Girls Softball Association to see improvements to the quality of the park district fields over the last two years.
00:03:44.879 --> 00:03:49.599
For example, we used to have to wait two days to get back on the field after heavy rain.
00:03:49.840 --> 00:03:52.400
Now we can return to playing much earlier.
00:03:52.639 --> 00:03:57.120
Our players also have noticed a difference in the quality of the fields after the improvements.
00:03:57.280 --> 00:04:05.360
They have made positive comments about the appearance of the fields and the leveling from dirt to grass between the infield and outfield, which really helps their game.
00:04:05.599 --> 00:04:13.919
Overall, we know that the park district is committed to providing a great environment for softball, which we are really happy about and fully support.
00:04:19.439 --> 00:04:30.160
One of our strengths at the North Park Park District is the breadth of our athletic programming, and we are focused on continuing to improve our field conditions for the benefit of our community.
00:04:30.480 --> 00:04:36.480
Our stepped-up investment is producing results, which gives us great satisfaction.
00:04:36.720 --> 00:04:43.920
For one, opening day has become smoother, and everyone looks forward to the upcoming seasons with excitement.
00:04:44.160 --> 00:04:50.959
Of course, the work isn't done yet, and we absolutely look forward to continuing to show results in the coming seasons.
00:04:51.600 --> 00:04:56.480
District staff members are looking forward to sharing more news and updates with you through this new series.
00:04:56.639 --> 00:05:01.120
To get notified when we release our next episode, be sure to subscribe to our podcast.
00:05:01.279 --> 00:05:04.240
Thanks for listening to this episode of Northbrook in 90.
