Field Conditions
Field Policies
As a member of the Orangevale community, we utilize fields that are maintained by the Orangevale Parks and Recreational District. In order to use these fields, we must agree to abide by their policies in order to ensure that member of our community stay safe and that the parks are available for everyone to enjoy.
For your understanding and convenience, the complete Orangevale Parks and Recreational District Inclement Weather Policy is shared below:
SPORTS FIELD INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY
PURPOSE
District athletic fields have been designed and are maintained for the enjoyment and use of Orangevale residents. The purpose of this policy is to guide the use of District athletic fields, to prevent injuries and damage to the playing surface brought upon by inclement weather and/or unsafe playing conditions. An effective field maintenance program is essential for safe, quality fields and sport complexes. User groups are asked to help us by accepting and adhering to these rules. Groups who use the District athletic facilities are expected to assist in protecting their participants and fields during periods of rain or inclement weather.
POLICY
The Orangevale Recreation and Park District reserves the right to cancel or suspend outdoor facility or field use permits for games, practices and other uses whenever field conditions could result in injury to players or damage to the fields. Permits may also be cancelled when the health and safety of participants are threatened due to impending conditions, including but not limited to, heavy rains, air quality alerts, or pesticide application.
PROCEDURE
The District Administrator or designated representative shall have the authority to close any or all fields within the Orangevale Recreation and Park District. During inclement weather, District maintenance staff will assess the playability of all District owned and joint-use San Juan Unified School District fields to determine if use will occur.
CRITERIA FOR ESTABLISHING FIELD PLAYABILITY
The following information is the District’s policy regarding the use of fields in wet conditions. This policy and described procedures apply to all sports and activities taking place on a grass field, turf area, or infield.
Baseball and Softball In-fields
Infields will be deemed unsafe/unplayable when any of the following conditions are present:
– Standing water within the base paths
– Your feet are slipping as you walk through the infield
– The depth of your foot print is greater than 1 inch
– When any of the above conditions are present within the pitching area.
Soccer, Lacrosse, Baseball and Softball Out Fields – Turf
Outfields and turf area will be deemed unsafe/unplayable when any of the following conditions are present:
– Standing water within the majority of a single playing position (positions will be determined based on user group).
– Your feet are suctioned to the ground as you walk within the majority of a single playing position
– Your foot prints are filling with water in the majority of a single playing position
– The depth of your foot print is greater than 2 inches in the majority of a single playing position.
– Grass can be dislodged from the parks easily by play.
USER GROUPS RESPONSIBILITY
1. If it has rained within the preceding 24 hours, groups using public fields must call the Orangevale Recreation and Park District’s FIELD CONDITIONS HOTLINE at (916) 987-1507 to receive updated information on field playability. Generally, only same-day information will be provided, except in the case of extreme conditions or scheduled maintenance. The HOTLINE message will be updated by 3:00 p.m. Monday-Friday and by 8:00 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. District staff will make a determination of field conditions. The determinations/decisions are not negotiable.
2. The District may also declare some fields subject to re-evaluation. These fields can be evaluated by the individual user group at game time for playability. The user group must use the same playability criteria used by Districtstaff.
3. In the event that the HOTLINE has not been updated, or is unavailable, groups are expected to make educated and responsible decisions regarding field condition playability, keeping in mind the current and future quality of turf facilities. Decisions regarding playability must be made using the above criteria for field playability.
4. GROUPS FAILING TO FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES OF THIS POLICY WILL BE SUBJECT CANCELLATION OF EXISTING RESERVATION AS WELL AS LOSS OF FUTURE USE. FIELDS CONSIDERED TOO WET AND/OR MUDDY BY DESIGNATED DISTRICT STAFF WILL BE MONITORED FOR MISUSE.
5. Groups witnessing misuse of fields by other scheduled or unscheduled users are advised to contact the Orangevale Recreation and Park District (988-4373)
6. Abuse/use during wet conditions shall result in a minimum $50 fine for the first infraction and a minimum $100.00 fine for the second infraction (fine may be higher if the cost of necessary repairs – due to a group’s use/abuse/misuse of a wet field – exceeds the set fine amount). A third infraction (in a calendar year) will result in loss of future scheduled uses. It is the rental organization’s responsibility to ensure that all coaches and parents understand and enforce this policy.
Orangevale Recreation & Park District
6826 Hazel Avenue
Orangevale, CA 95662
Phone: (916) 988-4373
Fax: (916) 988-3496
info@ovparks.com
916-988-1528
OYSC@ovalesoccer.org
