All-weather fields taking shape

New synthetic turf fields at Milwaukie and Rex Putnam high schools are on track for completion in time for the schools’ home football openers

By John Denny

The Clackamas Review, Aug 6, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009

John Denny / Clackamas Review

Milwaukie High School boys soccer coach Roberto Aguilar (far right) checks out Milwaukie High’s new synthetic turf field with players (from left) Jake Parker, Jet Townsend and Scott Pham.

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MILWAUKIE — The synthetic turf football fields at Milwaukie and Rex Putnam high schools are nearing completion and are expected to be ready for those school’s first home football games in early September.

“We’re really excited!” said Putnam football coach Brian Freitag. “We get an extra practice facility. We’ve never been able to practice on the football field before [because of the wear and tear on the grass].

“Plus, there’s the obvious benefit of having a [synthetic] turf field with the weather we have in Oregon.”

Milwaukie soccer coach Roberto Aguilar, who was checking out the progress on the field with three of his players in late July, echoed Freitag’s support and enthusiasm:

“I’m excited! I’m happy that we’ll be able to play at home, so our student body can support us.

“And I’m happy to be able to train at Milwaukie High School. It’s been five or six years since we actually had a practice at Milwaukie High School.”

“I’m excited that it’s flat,” said Milwaukie soccer player Jake Parker.

“With the crown that was there before, when I was standing on the sideline I couldn’t see across to the other side,” said Aguilar.

“We’ll be able to play better because we won’t have that crown,” said Milwaukie goalie Scott Pham.

“I’m glad that after several years of talking about it, we’re actually getting it for my senior year,” said Milwaukie soccer player Jet Townsend.

Ron Stewart, assistant superintendent for operations with the North Clackamas School District, listed several ways in which the new synthetic turf fields will benefit the school district and the Milwaukie and Rex Putnam communities:

“1. All-weather field = more hours and days of field use for students and the community.

“2. Use of fields in the rain without mud and sod damage issues.

“3. No irrigation system maintenance or watering required.

“4. No mowing required.

“5. No sod maintenance: fertilizer, aerating, spraying, seeding, top dressing.

“6. No painting of lines before each game.

“7. The new all-weather fields bring NCSD schools’ fields in line with other schools in the Three Rivers League.”

Other TRL schools have had synthetic turf fields for years. Come September the North Clackamas School District will have four synthetic turf fields. Clackamas High and Alder Creek Middle School had all-weather fields installed a year ago.

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