STC 2013 ‘Real Field of Dreams’ contest under way
Know of an amazing synthetic turf field, playground, park or installation in your community? Then check out the Synthetic Turf Council’s (STC’s) annual Search for the Real Field of Dreams, which recognizes the power that synthetic turf has to transform communities and schools, and keep their youth active, healthy and fit. This national contest is open to schools (K12 and college), parks, businesses and public spaces in the United States and Canada that have compelling stories about the impact of their synthetic turf field or installation. The Grand Prize is $1,000, and all winners receive local and national publicity and a modest cash award.
Since the contest was launched in 2009, participants have shared some amazing stories with the STC. Using synthetic turf to create barrier-free play zones, a community park serves more than 17,000 children with physical and cognitive challenges. Kids in economically challenged urban areas now have safer play spaces instead of rundown, concrete schoolyards.
“The opportunity to create a synthetic turf playing field on our campus was a dream come true for our students,” says David Manzo, president of
Cotting School, Lexington, Mass., and winner of the 2012 Athletic Fields Category.
Interested students, coaches, faculty and parents can nominate their school or organization by filling out the application on the STC’s website
www.syntheticturfcouncil.org.
There, entrants will be asked to explain how synthetic turf has had an impact on their organization, and upload photos and/or video of the field in use. The winners will be selected in the fall by an independent panel of judges. Entries are due by Monday, Sept. 2, 2013.
For STC member companies, the Search for the Real Field of Dreams contest is a wonderful way to generate positive awareness for your company and some of your exceptional projects; a way to garner national and local recognition and promote the benefits of synthetic turf.
If you know of any school or organization that has been positively impacted by synthetic turf field, please share the story with us. We encourage anyone interested in nominating a school, park, business, municipality or organization to do so, or to pass along information on the Search for the Real Field of Dreams to others. With more than 1,000 synthetic turf fields installed in the United States annually, the success stories are endless.
For more information, visit the STC website or direct comments or questions to terrie@syntheticturfcouncil.org.