Dollard hires plastic turf contractors

Dollard des Ormeaux has hired contractors to install its second artificial turf multi-sports facility.

The new Fieldturf terrain will be installed at École secondaire des Sources, replacing a heavily used grass field owned by the school board that is has shared with the town for years, said Keith Mallette, division head of Dollard’s sports and recreation department.

The town, which already has a fake grass field at Dollard Park across from the Civic Centre, needs a second one to deal with the popularity of soccer, as well as demands on its fields by football and rugby, for both games and practises, Mallette said. The Dollard Park, now in its fifth season of artificial turf, opened for use April 4, more than a month ahead of when Dollard’s natural grass fields could open, he added.

“The next most heavily used field (after Dollard Park) is the one at École des Sources,” Mallette said. “Actually, the school has used the (existing) synthetic field since it opened because there are no concerns about mud and it’s always in perfect shape.”

Dollard has about 2,500 minor soccer players and about 425 adults using its fields.

“A second synthetic field will be a major asset,” said Andrew Shotton, treasurer

Dollard Senior Soccer Club. “The (playing) hours are maxed out at Dollard’s parks. The new (artificial) field will open up a lot of extra hours for practises and games no matter the weather. It’s tough for purists who want to play on real grass, but for scheduling and practicality this is better,” he added.

The town has awarded a $704,340 contract to M.L. Paysagiste et Frères Inc. to install the fake grass and has hired Catalogna et Frères ltée, for an amount of about $1.4 million, to carry out the excavation and site work, said Mayor Ed Janiszewski, adding the work is expected to commence this month.

The $2.1 million project at the Commission scolaire Marguerite Bourgeoys facility on Lake Road is being financed by Dollard and the province.

Meanwhile, Kirkland is currently constructing its second artificial turf which is expected to be ready by mid-June, according to director general Joe Sanalitro. Ile Bizard already has one at Eugene Dostie Park and Dorval has built one next to the Sarto Desnoyers Community Centre. Pointe Claire is waiting for a provincial grant so it could install one at Terra Cotta Park but on Monday night city council turned down all tenders for the project.

The official opening of Dorval’s new synthetic soccer field, situated behind the Sarto Desnoyers Community Centre, will be held on May 16 starting at 9 a.m. For this event, the Dorval Soccer Association is organizing the Dorval Mayor's Exhibition Invitational Friendly. This event will showcase 13 Inter-city level teams from Dorval and its neighbouring community of Pointe-Claire in a pre-season exhibition match-up. This head-to-head competition will include male and female teams from ages 8 to 16. The Dorval Soccer Association gave themselves a goal; to raise $2,500 for the Youth Trust Fund. To conclude this day, the Dorval mayor’s team, made up of City of Dorval employees, will battle it out with the team represented by the Dorval Soccer Association.There will also be musical entertainment and a barbecue.

Chronicle, Jacques Pharand