City of Kamloops Doubles Down - Wins STMA Field of the Year Award for Second Straight Year
Courtesy Sportsfield Management Magazine, selected excerpts
The City of Kamloops has been recognized internationally as the first Canadian municipality ever to win two prestigious Field of the Year awards from the Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA) for its management of Norbrock Stadium and the Tournament Capital Ranch.
SPORTS FIELD MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION - FIELD OF THE YEAR
SCHOOLS AND PARKS SOFTBALL
TOURNAMENT CAPITAL RANCH SLO-PITCH FIELD
CITY OF KAMLOOPS, CANADA
"We compete against municipalities from all over the world and are recognized alongside cities in New York, Texas and North Carolina," said Jeff Putnam, the City’s Parks and Civic Facilities Manager. "Not to mention, we were the only municipality to take home two awards!"
The City was judged among other applicants in areas such as quality of field grooming by using specialty mowers and edging equipment, unique fertilization processes, and user group partnerships for keeping the turf in optimal condition.
“We hold our sport fields to the highest standard to ensure we live up to the billing as ‘Canada’s Tournament Capital,’” said Mike DeCicco, crew leader, turf, City of Kamloops. “With a population of less than 100,000 residents, sports and outdoor life plays a large role in the Kamloops community.”
Added DeCicco, “Implementing a turf maintenance program on par with a Major League stadium or high-end golf course, we provide a finished turf and ballfield product that we believe to be the best in Canada and North America. We host provincial, national and international softball/slo-pitch events all while regular league play happens during the weekdays. We are home to various men’s, ladies’, youth, senior, and co-ed leagues, plus NSA national slo-pitch association, SPN slo-pitch national. We receive rave reviews of the fields and facilities, which are managed on a municipal budget.”
“The great thing about Tournament Capital Ranch in Kamloops, BC is that you know the fields, regardless of which of the 10 beautiful diamonds you are playing on, will always be in great condition,” said Drew Mclean, Slo-Pitch National Canada.
“We have been using the facility for our NSA Canada Coed World Series for the past three years,” said Terry Sibbick, president of National Slo-Pitch Association Canada. “Our event has continued to grow each year with teams participating from coast to coast. One reason for the growth is the facility itself. Our members who travel from different parts of Canada to this event continually tell us that is the best facility with the best diamonds they have ever played on. When watching first timers to the park, one of the first things they do is walk out to the outfield to see if it is actual turf or artificial turf. Players are amazed that outfield is real grass. I personally have travelled across North America either playing or running events. Tournament Capital Ranch is the best overall facility I have ever seen.”
Putnam credits City staff for their expertise and commitment in managing and maintaining Norbrock Stadium and the Tournament Capital Ranch as well as support from City Council and user groups, such as Thompson Rivers University, the Kamloops Minor Baseball Association and private baseball and slo-pitch clubs, in sharing ideas for ongoing improvements to the field.