Crossville officials proposing a $2 million investment to install sports turf at the Centennial Park complex as part of a strategic push to boost local tourism and remain competitive with neighboring cities.
Crossville Leisure Services Director Ethan Medley said the project would focus on turfing the infields of the baseball and softball facilities while maintaining the natural grass outfields. Medley said the transition would significantly reduce the city’s field maintenance budget by eliminating the need for clay, conditioner, and drying agents.
“If you put these turf infields in, you’re going to cut down I’m going to estimate at least a couple hours a day, several hours across the week,” Medley said. “It immediately cuts down you lose conditioner, clay, sure dry, all that stuff is gone. We don’t need it anymore.”
The proposal comes as city leaders look to capitalize on the economic impact of sports tournaments, such as the recent “Bash for Cash” event which generated approximately $130,000 in tourism revenue over a single weekend. Medley said the city recently lost a major spring state tournament to Athens because that facility offered turf fields, which allow play to resume immediately after rain.
“When it rains, nothing happens,” Medley said. “They wait for the rain to stop, they hop right back on the field.”
One city official said the $2 million purchase would be funded out of cash from the capital projects budget rather than the structural budget. City Manager Valerie Hale said the Parks and Recreation department prioritized the turf project so highly that other department requests were eliminated to ensure its inclusion.
“It seems to be a trend around the surrounding counties that everyone’s going to this turf and we feel like we’re falling behind,” Hale said. “Cookeville’s in contracts to be able both by before next season that they start they’ll have it like as like you mentioned, Athens, Knoxville, Nashville.”
The investment is also expected to benefit local residents by preventing game cancellations during rainy weeks. Medley said the installation would likely be a winter project, with each field taking approximately two weeks to complete.
“I think it’s worth the benefit of doing it all, especially at a $2 million price,” Medley said. “Getting it all done, nobody’s left out. You don’t have to choose between adults or kids.”