CHARLESTON, W.Va. — In a move that Commissioner Ben Salango described as a “pretty significant,” the Kanawha County Commission approved a contract for installing artificial grass at the Shawnee Park Multi-Sports Complex in Dunbar.
The turf contract, worth more than $2.5 million, came following six months of negotiations from a starting price of more than $7 million. The deal includes around a million square feet of artificial turf for six soccer fields and infields of the four baseball fields.
Salango said FieldTurf installed this grass — FieldTurf 360 — for Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The Atlanta Falcons play at the complex, and the College Football Playoff National Championship will be held there Monday evening.
“There’s no other facility in the state of West Virginia that has this many turf fields, and turf gives us a significant advantage,” Salango said. “Not only does it reduce injuries, but you can play on it when it’s wet.”
Salango said for families involved in travel sports, the turf adds to their experience because of a decreased chance of canceling games due to precipitation.
“Having turf at this facility encourages other teams to come in and play,” he added.
The commission also approved adding a two-story structure connecting the four baseball fields, which will include a concession stand, restrooms and a press box.
“The concessions will be available to all four fields because it is in a clover design,” Salango explained. “The press box would be open to all four fields so that you could have separate announcers, separate scorekeepers and things of that nature.”
Salango said at a Dec. 27 groundbreaking ceremony they plan on holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the facility next summer.