Sometimes you win. Sometimes you lose. Sometimes it rains.
The reality is that when rain is in the forecast, the question on parents’ minds isn’t just “Will it stop in time?” but “Will my kid have a good day or a bad day?”
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It happened again. On last Monday evening, a brief but intense downpour swept through Arlington, VA. The next afternoon at 3 p.m., families saw an all-too-familiar message from the Department of Parks and Rec: The closest grass fields to them are closed; turf fields are open.
As a little league coach, I feel the frustration when a field is closed. I’ve done my share of field prep to try to get them ready for play – everything from “puddle pillows” and raking to let it dry in time for first pitch. I’ve also seen leaf blowers and heaters used in a desperate attempt to get fields ready.
Many of Arlington’s grass fields were closed after Monday’s rain, and this happens over and over through the spring/summer/fall season. Closed fields mean disrupted plans and disappointed players. Parents must scramble.
Meanwhile, parks and playgrounds that use recycled rubber stay open year-round.. With quick drainage and slip-resistant material, these surfaces are there when you need them, accommodating up to 10 times more playing hours than grass.
A friend of mine in northern Virginia has a daughter who participates in Girls on the Run. On Tuesday, her daughter’s practice was moved to a basketball court because the grass was too muddy. Yet, just 100 feet away, kids played on a recycled rubber playground, as if nothing had happened.
A brief rain shouldn’t derail our kids’ play. Fields using recycled rubber provide consistent access even during inclement weather. They help prevent last-second cancellations, scrambled schedules, and diminished practice and playing time.
