No soccer. No frisbee. No getting stoned in the park after work.
No soccer. No frisbee. No getting stoned in the park after work. ASK

It seems strange to fence off and tear up Cal Anderson Park, a central gathering spot adjacent to a pedestrian-heavy commercial corridor, during the city’s sunniest months. When chain link fences went up just before Pride weekend, one commenter reacted this way: "The end of June is the perfect time to shut down a park in Seattle to replace turf that doesn't need replacing." Other commenters echoed the sentiment.

And we can't help but agree. Since The Stranger's office overlooks the park, which has been a field of grey since the astroturf was rolled up and hauled out by forklifts two weeks ago, staffers have been grumbling about missed opportunities for weekday soccer games and bemoaning the loss of a sunny lunch spot.

When we caught up with Jay Rood, the Parks coordinator for this project, he wasn't very sympathetic. "It needed to be done," he said.

According to Rood, the pilot project, which is replacing decade-old, worn-out astroturf and rubber infill with sustainable organic cork, sand, and some new synthetic turf, had to be done during the driest time of year. The uncovered cement will need to be leveled out before a porous, cushiony padding is placed beneath the new cork turf, he said.

Cal Anderson Park Alliance (CAPA) president Rachael Brister said the organization was notified that the project would be happening later than its planned May start date.

"We are about three weeks later than we wanted because of contracting issues. But that’s construction," said Rood.

Although it is less ideal for athletes, there is still plenty of open grassy space within the park, said Brister.

"It does suck. We do look at it and think it’s a shame that there’s two months out of the year that all these different soccer and softball games [can't happen], but it has been 10 years since the turf has been touched," she said.

According to Brister, maintenance at the park has been sorely needed. As a result, she and other members of CAPA see the returfing, however inconvenient, as a good start.

"To me and to us at the Cal Anderson Park Alliance, any and all attention that’s paid to the park, whether it’s maintenance or placement of any resources is a good thing. We just have to take our lumps with it for a few months,” she said.

As Seattleites deal with these lumps (looking at you, overcast skies), folks can celebrate the little summer sunshine we have by kicking or throwing a ball around the Gennesee, Garfield, and Jefferson playfields.

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