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Kirkland to get second synthetic turf field

ANNE SUTHERLAND
The Gazette
Thursday, August 14, 2008

Kirkland will receive financial assistance from the provincial government to pay for a new synthetic soccer/football field.
The new field is planned for Smiley Park on Elkas Blvd. Construction could begin as early as mid-September and be completed by the end of November, said Mayor John Meaney.
The proposed field will cost $1.8 million. The province is kicking in $928,000.
Kirkland already has a synthetic field at Parc des Bénévoles.
The town council got the good news on the financial aid at the council meeting Aug. 4.
Meaney said the cost of the field is justified as the current grass field in the same location costs $50,000 in maintenance every year.
“We have to re-sod that field every fall,” Meaney said. “This field will pay for itself in 10 years.”
“There is a huge demand for soccer and football, and a synthetic field means we can start playing at the end of April, where as now we can only start June 1,” the mayor said.
Meaney downplayed any concerns about the toxicity of a synthetic playing field.
“We have a city of Montreal health report issued last week that said there is no danger and no toxic chemicals. The report gave thumbs up to synthetic fields, there is no problem,” he said.