All multipurpose fields and diamonds located in Sahuarita parks are now open following a successful two-month remediation effort to address safety concerns caused by compost issues.

In November 2024, Sahuarita fields were closed after maintenance crews discovered that compost applied for reseeding contained small fragments of shattered glass, plastics, and metal. This posed a significant safety risk, leading to the cancellation of all organized programs, sports games, and events.

The cleanup was a complex and collaborative process involving specialized equipment and expertise from the Town’s Parks Department, Badger Infrastructure Solutions, and the compost manufacturer, Gro Well. Teams employed a range of tools, including shop vacuums, Hydrovac trucks, and manual debris removal methods, to ensure the thorough removal of glass fragments.

“I’m proud of the way our teams came together to address this critical community issue,” said Devin Stalder, Director of Parks & Recreation. “Our residents and Registered Sports Organizations (RSOs) have been incredibly patient and supportive as we worked to be as thorough as possible to ensure the safety of field users.”

Collaborative Inspection Process
On November 25, the Town hosted a site walk with RSO leaders to assess the cleanup progress. The RSOs provided valuable feedback, and a strategy was developed for final inspections, which included nighttime assessments for enhanced visibility under field lighting.

Throughout December, Town staff conducted weekly inspections and provided regular updates to user groups.

“After a final round of inspections in early January, we have confirmed that all fields are safe for use,” said Austin Campbell, Recreation Manager. “We encourage our field users to communicate with us about this or any other safety issues that arise. Safety continues to be our top priority.”

Future Turf Management Plan
Initially, the Parks Department intended to complete fall overseeding with ryegrass. However, due to the extended remediation timeline, the seeding could not be carried out effectively with season and weather constraints. Grass seed typically requires 6-8 weeks to establish, and with the transition to the spring Bermuda grass season approaching, rye seeding is no longer viable.

Instead, in March, the Parks Department will implement a robust plan to restore optimal turf conditions by top-dressing the fields with sand and applying Bermuda grass seed where needed. 

“This process obviously needed to take precedence over our routine reseeding operations,” said Dylan Pruitt, Parks & Facilities Manager. “I think we have come up with a solution that satisfies our needs to maintain fields while also continuing to address safety concerns.”

Looking Ahead
The Town of Sahuarita is committed to maintaining open communication with the community and its registered sports organizations while teams continue to enhance park facilities.

“We appreciate the patience and understanding of our residents during this time and are excited to welcome you back to the fields,” said Stalder.

Disclaimer: While extensive efforts have been made to remove all fragments, it is possible that occasional sightings of small fragments may occur. The Parks Department will monitor the situation closely and increase overseeding efforts over time to help bury any remaining fragments and further improve field conditions.

For further updates on park operations and future events, visit sahuaritaparksandrec.org.