OAKMONT, Pa. — Local parents are worried that damage caused by the U.S. Open could cast a shadow over the fall sports season.
“The borough took the money from the USGA with the promise that the field would be repaired, and that’s not been the case,” said Kelly Harbadin.
Harbadin’s daughter is a freshman at Riverview High School and plays soccer. Her first game is in August, but Harbadin is concerned that the field may be unsafe for play.
“ACL injuries can sideline a child for a year, or even their entire school career,” Harbadin said.
For weeks, parents like Harbadin have been increasingly worried about the field’s condition. The park, which is shared between Oakmont Borough and the school district, was used to host guests during the U.S. Open in June.
On Wednesday, upset parents sent Channel 11 photos showing the field’s poor condition, stressing that football conditioning is set to begin on Monday.
During a visit to the field, Harbadin pointed out its flaws: “There are many divots and uneven patches of grass, and in some areas, there is no grass at all. The U.S. Open has been over for about six or seven weeks now.”
In response, the borough communicated with Channel 11 that $100,000 has been invested by both the USGA and the borough to ensure a safe playing field following the tournament.
“Since the end of the Open, the USGA hired a contractor to re-grade and hydroseed the affected areas of the field. The contractor was under contract to water the seeded area daily for two weeks. However, both the contractor and the Oakmont Parks Superintendent, along with the USGA, were dissatisfied with how the seeding failed to take root and grow properly. The high humidity, excessive rains, and hot temperatures did not help. The USGA decided immediately to lay sod over all affected areas, which we estimate cost around $40,000 for materials and labor. In total, including the Borough’s rehabilitation of the baseball field (visible in the background of both photos), $100,000 has been invested to provide a proper grass field for all scholastic and community sports leagues using Riverside Park,” said Scot Fodi, the Borough of Oakmont manager.
On Thursday, Channel 11 toured the field with the school district’s Superintendent and Athletic Director. They expressed their satisfaction with the progress and their confidence that the field will be ready for the fall sports season. However, they stated they would continue to monitor the situation and, if necessary, relocate training, scrimmages, and games to nearby community fields.
“We are confident that the partnership between the USGA, the Borough of Oakmont, and the outside contractors is focused on ensuring the field is in good condition before our first games. While the fields are not district-owned, our Athletic Director and district leadership have been in constant communication with the borough, walking the grounds together and closely monitoring conditions. We commend our Athletic Director and the Borough’s Parks Department for their vigilance and collaboration in these efforts. We will continue working together to ensure a safe, playable, and supportive environment for our student-athletes,” said Superintendent Dr. English.
“At this point, we are just days away from youth sports starting on these fields. We’re required to have training here for our children, and it’s unsafe,” Harbadin emphasized.
Both girls’ soccer and football have scheduled home games in August.
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