KENT KRIEGSHAUSER/The Register-MailJoe Nichols, left, of Landscaping Solutions, and Knox College Director of Grounds John Steller examine and repair damaged sod this morning on the school’s soccer field. Vandals drove onto the field overnight, tearing up a portion of the nearly 9,000 yards of new turf.
Sod on Knox soccer field damaged
turf for $75K project was installed Tuesday
Friday, June 8, 2007
GALESBURG - An early morning doughnut run could have meant a full stomach but instead caused damage to a Knox College soccer field.Police were called around 6:20 a.m. this morning to Jorge Prats Soccer Field at Knox after the newly sodded soccer field was found damaged.
Police said it appeared someone drove a truck on to the field and did doughnuts, causing between $500 and $1,000 in damage.
The sod was just installed Tuesday and Wednesday and was being replaced by Landscape Solutions at press time.
The new sod was part of a $75,000 soccer field renovation that also includes a new sound system and fencing.
John Steller, Knox College director of grounds, said, "Hopefully we're going to try to roll it (the new sod) about noon."
He said he had been watering the sod "pretty much around the clock."
However, Steller said it sod that was laid down earlier this week had a long way to go before it took root.
"It normally takes about three weeks for it to take root so it can't be pulled up," he said.
Landscaping crews began removing the old grass from the field May 21, taking less than a week to complete the work. Knox athletic director Chad Eisele said less than a week ago that he had hoped to have the field sodded already, but recent rains delayed the process. The weather finally cooperated earlier this week before this morning's vandalism forced crews to start the work again.
