Photo: Portland Parks and Rec
Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) has closed all city-owned athletic and ball fields until at least Friday, March 31, 2017, due to safety concerns and saturated conditions related to continued rain. This closure impacts grass fields at Portland Parks & Recreation sites, and events which PP&R had permitted at Portland Public Schools facilities. On Friday, March 31, PP&R will re-evaluate the grass fields and make a determination on if they can be reopened, or if the closures need to be extended - with user safety in mind. The citywide closure does NOT impact synthetic turf fields, which are designed for all-weather play.
Sustained rains and wet conditions across the city have left many PP&R athletic fields with standing water, mud, slippery turf, and other poor conditions that may impact athletes' safety. The heavy and seemingly unending rain has also hampered the ability for PP&R maintenance crews to care for the fields. Portland Parks & Recreation turf experts stressed the importance of preserving the grass at this time of the year, noting that damage inflicted now will be much harder to repair later in the year when more users are expected to use the fields.
All people who have been granted permits for events on PP&R athletic and ball fields will have their money refunded. Fields will also be closed for drop-in use. Portland Parks & Recreation makes safety its top priority, though we understand some athletes will be disappointed by the bureau's need to close the fields. Similar closures impacted PP&R grass fields in March and October, 2016.