|
|
|
Brad Smith has seen a lot in his 30-plus years as a soccer coach, but this year his field at Crowder College is a new one — a solar powered soccer field.
The new Crowder soccer field will make its debut today when Crowder hosts Allen County Community College at 4 p.m.
The field, north of the baseball and softball fields, will have a solar powered sprinkler system, public address system and scoreboard.
“November of last year we talked about making it completly solar powered,” said Ron Granger, the Dean of business at Crowder. “We got with the contractor and he helped us look at it and we decided in December we could get it done.”
The idea, in line with Crowder’s vision, made sense to those on the committee that was formed for the soccer stadium.
“I think at first the reaction of people ... they were skeptical,” said Granger. “When we first got the sprinkler system to work, people thought it was a great idea. I know Coach Smith is really happy about it. It is something unique.”
Granger added, “We thought why not make this part of the mission, at Crowder with the solar energy system and the wind turbine. This soccer field fit what we were doing.”
Last year Crowder College used Lions Field, the same field as the Neosho Wildcats, so Smith was pleased to get a field for his team this year.
“I have been coaching for about 35 years and I don’t know of another soccer field like this,” Smith said. “I thought it was a great idea as long as it worked. I am really happy with it.”
The field is 120 feet by 80 feet, with bleachers for the fans and a bench area for the two teams.
Brad Smith has seen a lot in his 30-plus years as a soccer coach, but this year his field at Crowder College is a new one — a solar powered soccer field.
The new Crowder soccer field will make its debut today when Crowder hosts Allen County Community College at 4 p.m.
The field, north of the baseball and softball fields, will have a solar powered sprinkler system, public address system and scoreboard.
“November of last year we talked about making it completly solar powered,” said Ron Granger, the Dean of business at Crowder. “We got with the contractor and he helped us look at it and we decided in December we could get it done.”
The idea, in line with Crowder’s vision, made sense to those on the committee that was formed for the soccer stadium.
“I think at first the reaction of people ... they were skeptical,” said Granger. “When we first got the sprinkler system to work, people thought it was a great idea. I know Coach Smith is really happy about it. It is something unique.”
Granger added, “We thought why not make this part of the mission, at Crowder with the solar energy system and the wind turbine. This soccer field fit what we were doing.”
Last year Crowder College used Lions Field, the same field as the Neosho Wildcats, so Smith was pleased to get a field for his team this year.
“I have been coaching for about 35 years and I don’t know of another soccer field like this,” Smith said. “I thought it was a great idea as long as it worked. I am really happy with it.”
The field is 120 feet by 80 feet, with bleachers for the fans and a bench area for the two teams.
