All the work and money that's been put into making King George V Park in St. John's a flood-free soccer facility appears to have paid off.
Heavy rains dumped up to 100 millimetres in some areas of the capital city last week and caused flooding in many places, including Quidi Vidi Lake. However, the soccer field, which is adjacent to the lake, didn't hold a drop of water, St. John's Soccer Association president Brian Murphy told The Telegram Monday.
"The berm worked, buddy," said an obviously delighted Murphy.
"No water on the field at all ... not a stain. What was put in last year worked like a charm."
Installed at a cost of $985,000 as part of the $3.5 million refurbishment of KGV in August of 2006, the artificial surface was severely damaged in the fall of 2008 after a heavy rain caused water overflow from the lake.
The league said replacing the FieldTurf wouldn't start until problems with Rennies River, which runs into the lake, were rectified. Work on two pedestrian bridges over the river and a berm that runs behind the bleacher seats near the river bank, began last summer.
Now that the berm has passed the test, Murphy said the new FieldTurf surface will be installed in early May.
Murphy said FieldTurf technicians will be in St. John's again later this month to install the artificial turf at the new indoor soccer facility in Pleasantville and he'll be talking to them at that time.
Murphy said a FieldTurf representative was in St. John's a few weeks ago checking out the indoor facility and talking with officials from Conception Bay South, which plans to install FieldTurf this summer as well.
"(A FieldTurf representative) phoned me (Monday) morning because he'd heard about all the rain we had recently and he was wondering if we had any problem at King George," said Murphy.
"We told them 'No,' and they were tickled pink. Everything is on track. Everything is looking really good. We're on schedule."
This summer will be a busy one for from local soccer.
This province will host to the national under-14 and under-16 girls' tournaments in St. John's in July. That will be followed by the national under-18 boys' tournament in October which will be co-hosted by Mount Pearl and the capital city. And there is also CBC's Soccer Day in Canada in July, Murphy noted.
There are also plans in the works for a major tournament involving teams across Canada and in divisions under-14 to the senior level for the summer of 2011, a project being developed in conjunction with the capital city's tourism department.
"We're going to be working with Destination St. John's, along with Mount Pearl, Conception Bay South and Paradise, in hopes of establishing a big annual tournament in June and July. We're going to send out invitations to every club in Canada," explained Murphy.
"We're going to start meeting with the various associations over the next few weeks to discuss the project. Nothing is finalized yet, but I feel it will be a go."
jbrowne@thetelegram.com
It appears worries about flooding at KGV have gone down the drain
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Published on
March 9, 2010
- Published on July 1, 2010
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John Browne
SPORTS FACILITY
All the work and money that's been put into making King George V Park in St. John's a flood-free soccer facility appears to have paid off.
Heavy rains dumped up to 100 millimetres in some areas of the capital city last week and caused flooding in many places, including Quidi Vidi Lake. However, the soccer field, which is adjacent to the lake, didn't hold a drop of water, St. John's Soccer Association president Brian Murphy told The Telegram Monday.
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Comments
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- David
- - July 2, 2010 at 15:04:28
Head Banger you seem to be in the know. Maybe this City needs someone with your Head Banging skills down there on Gower Street. Better yet, maybe you should run for Mayor, you could use your head as a gavel.
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- SoccerFan
- - July 2, 2010 at 15:00:28
Bill & Head Banger you guys have no idea what you are talking about and should probably refrain from commenting on things unless you are in the know, cause you're just making yourself look stupid. The construction of the new KGV facility was a highly professional, well planned, and successful venture. All precautions were taken. What happened in the fall of '08 was an absolute fluke. The field did not flood due to the lake overflowing (that issue was resolved prior to the construction of the venue by opening a valve at the far side of the lake) ... what happened was a fallen tree got wedged under the pedestrian bridge, creating a dam, sending the heavy rushing river sideways and directly on / through the field....the current did the damage.
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- Head
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:42:37
Might have been an idea to have constructed this properly the first time rather then playing catch up at our expense. Poor planning and design is not an excuse which holds water, unlike the pitch. What a waste this venture was. None of what happened needed to and the people in the know knew that. Too bad those with the contracts looked at dollar signs then and not at practical solutions.
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- Bill
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:40:36
It appears the St. John's Soccer Association is missing something. A few years ago Quidi Vidi lake oveflowed its banks and spilled up into the graveyard disturbing some grave sites. It also oveflowed on the West end of the lake over Carnell Drive spilling into the east end of the field. From what I can see, nothing has been done to prevent water from entering the field from this area.
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- David
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:53:44
Head Banger you seem to be in the know. Maybe this City needs someone with your Head Banging skills down there on Gower Street. Better yet, maybe you should run for Mayor, you could use your head as a gavel.
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- SoccerFan
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:48:20
Bill & Head Banger you guys have no idea what you are talking about and should probably refrain from commenting on things unless you are in the know, cause you're just making yourself look stupid. The construction of the new KGV facility was a highly professional, well planned, and successful venture. All precautions were taken. What happened in the fall of '08 was an absolute fluke. The field did not flood due to the lake overflowing (that issue was resolved prior to the construction of the venue by opening a valve at the far side of the lake) ... what happened was a fallen tree got wedged under the pedestrian bridge, creating a dam, sending the heavy rushing river sideways and directly on / through the field....the current did the damage.
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- Head
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:20:00
Might have been an idea to have constructed this properly the first time rather then playing catch up at our expense. Poor planning and design is not an excuse which holds water, unlike the pitch. What a waste this venture was. None of what happened needed to and the people in the know knew that. Too bad those with the contracts looked at dollar signs then and not at practical solutions.
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- Bill
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:16:43
It appears the St. John's Soccer Association is missing something. A few years ago Quidi Vidi lake oveflowed its banks and spilled up into the graveyard disturbing some grave sites. It also oveflowed on the West end of the lake over Carnell Drive spilling into the east end of the field. From what I can see, nothing has been done to prevent water from entering the field from this area.
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