Sen. Tommy Morrison sent a letter yesterday informing Department of Parks and Recreation Director Raymond Blas of a provision contained in Public Law 33-66, the fiscal 2016 budget law, which authorizes Blas to expend up to 10 percent from the allocations designated for the maintenance of public parks and facilities to procure professional groundskeeping services for sports facilities such as Paseo Stadium.

"The authorization highlights the importance of engaging the services of a professional groundskeeping vendor to maintain, on a regular basis, the field's playing surface in the absence of DPR personnel trained on turf management," Morrison said. "The authorization may also present an opportunity for DPR to work closely with the groundskeeping vendor to develop a job training partnership aimed at building turf management expertise within the agency."

Larger effort

The provision of professional groundskeeping services at Paseo Stadium was born out of a larger effort by Guam's sports community to improve what used to be the island's premier public sports facility. Since April 2015, members of Guam's sports community continue to hold regular meetings to discuss the future of Paseo Stadium. Efforts are under way to establish an organization that can support the needs of current and aspiring baseball players, as well the long-term management and maintenance of Paseo Stadium.

Earlier this year, nearly $1.2 million from the U.S. Department of Interior was designated to fund much-needed repairs at Paseo Stadium and the adjacent public recreation center. According to Parks and Rec leadership, part of the repair work will include structural modifications that are required in order to accommodate non-sport activities such as concerts and cultural events including the 2016 Festival of Pacific Arts. The structural modifications were added by Parks and Rec several months ago to ensure that non-sport activities don't adversely affect Paseo Stadium's playing surface.

"Together with the long-awaited renovations to Paseo Stadium expected to take place over the next year, and the establishment of a public-private operations and maintenance partnership, the provision of professional groundskeeping services is another huge step forward in Guam's efforts to develop safe and healthy community programs for our youth and families," Morrison said. "I wish to thank Guam's sports community, Gov. (Eddie) Calvo, Team DPR, the Guam Visitors Bureau and all who have and continue to do their part in helping to build a safer, cleaner, and well-equipped Paseo Stadium," he said.

 

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