Report: Beachwood Schools Athletic Fields Suffer From Overuse

athletic fields pose no immediate safety concern to student athletes, though there are several spots in poor condition due to overuse, a study contracted by the district has concluded.

Beachwood City Schools Superintendent Rich Markwardt has addressed concerns about the fields’ condition at past Board of Education meetings. He told Patch that the fields are not given enough time to “rest” — essentially, what the study has also concluded.

He added that he hopes to consider installing artificial turf on the football field once at are complete.

Landscape architects and site planners R.J. Priest and Associates conducted the safety study on the baseball, softball, football and soccer fields August 16 and 18 and reviewed the fields after both rain and clear, warm conditions.

The football field, whose center turf is worn due to overuse, must see continued maintenance with no use from the end of this football season to next August or it will continue to deteriorate, the report states.

Left field on the varsity baseball field is also worn due to overuse, and repair – without use – should begin immediately to prepare it for use in the spring.

The report also recommends that use of the boys' varsity soccer field be limited for repair.

The fields that are not overused are in similar condition to other athletic fields in Cuyahoga County school districts, though many schools do not allow overuse on varsity fields, the report adds.

which was not part of this study.