Aerial View of the Queens Sports Complex at Marion Diehl Park taken September 27th.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (September 29, 2005)
The sports complex has been in discussion and planning for over two years. The sight of this new athletic field quickens the pulse as a reminder of what is still yet to come. This field is just the first installment of a larger plan for what will be a world class facility. One coach was heard to say,"This is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow."
Says Vice President of Administration and Operations Laurie S. Guy, "This is a win-win for all involved. These facilities will enhance the athletic programs at Queens and will allow the University to expand and be more involved in the community."
The facility will serve many purposes for the University. The complex will serve as a strong recruiting tool for coaches, which should translate to stronger athletic programs. The complex better fits the image of a university that is growing and improving along side the City of Charlotte. The facility will serve as an added benefit for students considering Queens, which will aid enrollment. Finally, the facilities will be open for public use, which fits the mission of Queens to be more actively involved with the community.
The target date for the first game on the new surface is tentatively being scheduled for October 19 when the men's soccer team hosts UNC Pembroke. The adaptive field should be completed by the end of October and the track and field facility is planned to be completed by the spring of '06.
Aerial View of the Queens Sports Complex at Marion Diehl Park taken September 27th
The field is a state-of-the-art type turf that is a far cry from the artifical turf seen in the sixties and seventies. The new turf is made of a plastic blend, which turf makers say is as soft as real grass blades. The "grass" is held in place by a mixture of silica sand and rubber granules, made from old tires and sneaker rubber. Manufacturers of the turfgrass expect it to have a lifespan of between ten and fifteen years which greatly reduces the cost of annual natural turf maintenance.
Says Jennifer Trevisol, vice president construction operations at Rogers Builders, "With the main infrastructure now in place, we will be able to fill in the pieces that will make this property look beautiful and ready for use. Very little has deviated from the original plans and we are very happy with the progress thus far."
The future of Queens athletics is about to make a dramatic change! Stay tuned to the Queens Web site for the official announcement of the first game to be played on this great new field!
— For months, the aerial views of the Queens Sports Complex at Marion Diehl Park have shown a clay landscape leaving little for the imagination to visualize.
This week, the aerial views show something markedly different. A robin hood green of rich turfgrass and painted boundaries for athletic competition is now in place. One can almost imagine the coaches in athletics singing, "Oh happy day....." This is an exciting and long awaited day for the athletics department.
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