TLC for torn up turf

After about two decades of being trampled underfoot, the Vernon Hills Park District's soccer fields are getting a makeover.

Crews have continued to rip up two fields at Deerpath and Century parks in a complete restoration. The fields will be off limits until next fall.

The fields, which mainly are rented by youth and adult groups for soccer and lacrosse, are bumpy and compacted.

"These soccer fields have not been refurbished since they were built. The ground was severely impacted," said Larry DeGraaf, executive director.

The turf will be dug up and turned over. Amendments and topsoil will be added and the fields will be planted with a modern variety of seed that is more resistant to disease and insects. Holes will be filled and drainage problems will be corrected.

Those fields don't get as much activity as they used to and the district does not have its own soccer program.

Games for about 600 Vernon Hills children are held at the Greater Libertyville Soccer Association's facilities in Libertyville Township and there also is soccer space at the Vernon Hills Athletic Complex, which opened a few years ago. Groups using park district fields will be moved to the athletic complex in the interim.

The $47,000 project is part of a package of work recently approved by the park board.

Also on tap is the renovation of restrooms in the district's four oldest parks. First up is the renovation of two in Century and Deerpath park, which is expected to be completed in about six weeks. Making the facilities handicapped accessible is part of the an approved $167,000 project.

Also scheduled to begin soon is the clearing of park district and village-owned land north and south of the Sullivan Center. The project is being done in advance of potential development.

And in other milestones, Torrey Pines Park at Gregg's Parkway just east of Butterfield Road in the Gregg's Landing subdivision opened Sept 14. The $290,000 addition is small but features a substantial playground.