Tiger Stadium site community meeting

[Knightmessenger]

Wednesday October 28, 2015 @ 6:30 pm
IBEW Local 58- 1358 Abbot St 48226

https://www.facebook.com/events/1000003773374883/

Corktown is booming and really becoming a hotspot. But this historic land has to be developed right. Much of the plan seems good. But Police Athletic League [[PAL) is actually proposing to convert the field to artificial turf, which has the volunteer field crew [[Navin Field Grounds Crew) aghast.

And what are they going to do about parking for the new residents of the condos? What about all the land along Kaline Drive between Rosa Parks and Cochrane? It's just a bunch of gravel lots? Has PAL reached out to any of those property owners about building a parking deck or maybe putting another field there so they don't put nerf turf at Tiger Stadium?

The Tigers first played at the Corner in 1896 but the current layout of the field dates back to when Navin Field opened on the same day as Fenway Park in 1912. So if you happen to agree that Michigan and Trumbull should always be real grass, there is this change.org petition you can sign.
https://www.change.org/p/the-city-of...edium=copylink

I honestly think that if this land is developed right, it could make Detroit a major destination for baseball tournaments or other types of high school/college events. Maybe it would even help make a full renovation of Michigan Central station feasible. The field as is already has attracted tourists from all over the country and even overseas, according to the NFGC. I can't imagine it having that kind of draw and value if the lot is converted to a glorified carpet.

[Mackinaw]

Moreover, if done right, you can create a one of a kind neighborhood along Michigan Ave and Trumbull. If the new apartments/townhouses simply overlook a standard modern rec center with artificial turf, though, the 'corner' loses some of its luster and a lot of its link to the past, even if the distinction seems superficial.

[CrashDummy]

Real grass is great. Until you play sports on it. If you want it to actually be used, artficial turf is the better choice.

[Zads07]

Real grass is great. Until you play sports on it. If you want it to actually be used, artficial turf is the better choice.

Do you have stats on this? On how field turf is better than regular grass?

No, Field Turf is not the better choice. Grass is the best and only way it should go.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozan...al-turf-field/

[401don]

Much as I hate turf, they want to make this a multi-use facility and playing soccer, etc. all day will destroy grass. The last thing you want is for the field to sit idle except for one or two days a week so it comes down to finding a way to fund the very heavy cost of maintenance if you want grass. A good compromise might be a natural grass infield with a turf outfield where you can restrict the infield to baseball.

[casscorridor]

The site should generate tax revenue for the city, with new businesses and residences, while also maintaining the field because it will act as a huge amenity to the whole area.

[Mackinaw]

Wouldn't a potential compromise entail preserving the infield and shallow outfield of the old diamond AS-IS with natural turf [[naturally, this will be only for baseball+softball in-season), and putting field turf down on the other areas of this giant site, to be used for other sports??

Was this discussed last night?

It seems sensible and regards heritage and usefulness both.

[emu steve]

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/new...-pal/76336078/

http://www.freep.com/story/news/loca...ield/76338550/

[Honky Tonk]

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/new...-pal/76336078/

There sure are a lot of white people in front of that PAL building in the News story.