PORT TOWNSEND — In high school, Rich Stapf played ball at Memorial Field but never thought about how the grass was watered.
As an a local contractor, he once favored a proposal that would replace the field with a parking garage set under an artificial turf surface.
Today, he is leading a community effort to replace the antiquated sprinklers on wheels, which have been in use for years, with a state-of-the-art irrigation system.
“This is a historic place,” Stapf said.
“It needs to be saved, preserved and improved.”
Irrigation system
To that end, Stapf is supervising the installation of the irrigation system that will begin next week.
“We have a five-to-seven day window where we can do this,” he said.
“We will get this done in time for football season and work with the lights on if we have to.”
The field, which opened in 1946, serves as a memorial to all the Port Townsend soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who have died in battle.
The field is owned by Jefferson County, but budget cuts have created uncertainty about its maintenance and operation.
Until this year, county employees regularly watered the field, using two aging, clunky sprinklers that were moved from one location to another.
Last year, the county sought to offset park maintenance to local residents, but no one stepped forward to “adopt” Memorial Field.
Stapf then volunteered to supervise the watering, but soon found it to be an impossible task that was inefficiently performed.
New system
So Stapf developed a proposal to install a sprinkler system, recruiting landscape designer Roger Hall to provide plans.
Hall designed a 10-station, 110-head system with 4,000 feet of PVC pipe, which Stapf said, will decrease the cost and increase the efficiency of the watering operation.
Jefferson County Parks and Recreation manager Matt Tyler said the new system will save the county $4,000 to $6,000 a year in maintenance and labor costs, and increase irrigation efficiency.
The new system will run every other night, so people who are using the field during the day won’t have to accommodate watering.
Aside from labor and convenience, watering at night is better for the soil and prevents evaporation, Hall said.
Throughout, there are standards to maintain.
‘Grass looks good’
“In my 35 years in the business I have never seen a free-standing system where the grass looks this good,” Hall said.
Hall and Stapf are donating their time, and Stapf has convinced off-duty East Jefferson Fire Rescue firefighters to help with the installation.
Since taking over the watering, Stapf has managed with more than a little help from his friends, singling out the Port Townsend School District for its help with aeration and fertilizing and local volunteer Robert Saunders for his contribution of time and labor.
The new irrigation system doesn’t decrease the need for other repairs, but it will support the facility’s prime directive.
“The most important thing is to maintain the field,” Stapf said.
“A new fence and a repaired roof will be meaningless if the field isn’t kept up.”
Financing for project
Stapf has financed the $18,000 project out of his own pocket, putting the money down to get the project started.
At the same time, supporters are sponsoring a fundraising drive in order to take up some of the slack.
Stapf’s goal is to raise $10,000 in contributions and pay the rest of the tab himself.
With that in mind, donors can give at several different levels.
A $1000 Olympic level donation, limited to six donors, will get the donor’s name on a permanent 8-inch-by-10-inch plaque on the front entry of the stadium.
The $500 World Cup level, limited to 10 donors, gets the name on a smaller plaque.
The $100 Summit level, limited to 20, earns recognition in a news release.
The $25 Family level is unlimited and unsung, but will give the donor the sense of having contributed to an important community project, Stapf said.
Tax deductible donations are being accepted by the Port Townsend Redskins Boosters Club.
Potential donors are asked to contact Stapf directly at 360-301-6184 or stapfconstinc@cablespeed.com.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
