The Field Conditions at Escalante Middle and Practice Space at Riverview and Smith Sport Complexes

by Kate Stahlin

I want to take this opportunity to update you on Escalante Middle School and the field conditions. The fields have a compaction issue that occurs when soil particles are pressed together, reducing pore space between them reducing the rate of both water infiltration and drainage from the compacted layer. This has made them hard, uneven, unsafe, and impacts the level of play.  Because of this, for the spring DYSA is attempting to move all of our teams off of Escalante for practices and games and placing them at Riverview Sports Complex or the Smith Sports Complex.  We want to provide a safer environment and better play surface for members while giving the Escalante fields an opportunity to rest.

Since last fall we have been working with the Durango School District 9R on a plan to improve the fields at Escalante. We have received feedback from turf specialists and have a good idea on what needs to take place to improve the fields. However, it is an expensive process that would require staying off the fields for and extended period of time. Both organizations are invested and want the fields to be improved, and ultimately to turn the facility into a sports complex that can serve the school and other community groups.

The goal is to start repairs at Escalante starting the summer of 2018. To get to our final target the project will have to occur in phases. The School District assures us that they will keep other groups off the fields this spring.  The hope is with the rest the fields can be used for 2018 Mercy Sports Medicine Durango Shootout, our largest club fundraiser.  We are already making alternate preparations in case the fields are deemed unplayable.

DYSA has a long history with Escalante Middle School. Back in 2004 DYSA completed a project to develop the fields.  DYSA member Mike Olson designed the plan and DYSA Member Jack Wasserbach executed them. DYSA paid Gene Bond $76,000 with Bond’s construction for the work he did on Escalante which included building a 12 foot retaining wall on the west side of the school, and spreading out 9,000 cubic yards of fill to make the surface.  Bond also donated $126,000 in work. Wasserbach put in the irrigation system, while the School District paid for the pipe and the fittings. The labor for this project took over three years. DYSA and other donors contributed around $275,000 to the project.

Photos of the Escalante Field Development

Moving off of Escalante has proven to be very challenging and has reminded us how valuable that space is to our organization.  We have been working with the City of Durango to reserve space at both Riverview and the Smith Sports Complexes. The fields up at Smith are not  available until April 16th, and our access will be limited because other entities like Fort Lewis College intramural, club, and varsity sports along with Parks & Recreation and other youth clubs also needing space. At this time, we also have not been informed what days, times and field will be made available to us at Smith. Until we can get on Smith our teams, and the Durango High School JV Soccer team, have to share the space at Riverview. Along with this, baseball and softballl starts in April and the outfield fences will go up. This cuts back on our space on the upper field, and the complex will get more crowded. It is crucial that our DYSA coaches, players and families are flexible during this time. We also want to be considerate and friendly to the other users of the space.

In the end, the fields at Escalante are the only facility we can call home.  This is the only place we have some flexibility in regards to scheduling practices and games. DYSA has built a strong relationship with the school and 9R over the years and plans to maintain and strengthen it as we go through the phases of making Escalante a legitimate sports complex. It will be a glorious day when we have green grass and do not have to use porta potties