When Phil Nicewarner contacted Connect-Bridgeport to see if community members wanted extra pieces of scrap FieldTurf as a goodwill gesture, the plan went over better than expected. In fact, having the leftover pieces of artificial surface that is being laid on Wayne Jamison Field may have ended up turning out way too much better.

 

“Every single piece of scrap turf that was outside the gate was taken and even items that were in dumpsters were taken,” said Nicewarner, who has been serving as the liaison between the FieldTurf and school officials during the project. “We had some turf taken that not only wasn’t supposed to be taken, but was inside the fence and probably 40 yards or so away from the area where the scrap turf was placed.”

 

The turf in question was inside the gate and between the outfield fence of the baseball field and the bathroom facility inside of Jamison Field. There is currently old turf with yard markers along with long scraps of turf from the sidelines that were three or four feet wide that had a designated use.

 

“We hoped to run that turf from the field to the field house and perhaps into other areas,” said Nicewarner. “There were some potential other uses we were also looking at for the turf that was there.”

 

Nicewarner said during his time at the field Saturday he did not see anyone take it, nor did FieldTurf workers. He said the FieldTurf crew that arrived early Sunday morning noticed it was gone.

 

“It may have happened when the (American Legion) games were being played Saturday night and there was so much material that a truck would have had to come inside the gate,” said Nicewarner. “It also would have required several people to pick it up.”

 

Nicewarner said it’s his hope that the turf was picked up as a mistake; that it was thought to be scrap material. He said is so, he’s also hopeful it can be returned.

 

“It certainly could be a misunderstanding, but it was clearly not outside the gate or near the concession stand,” said Nicewarner. “We’re just hoping to be able to use that and if someone accidentally took it we are hopeful they would be willing to bring it back.”

 

Nicewarner said if the individual or individuals that took it could contact him, he would appreciate it. He also said if anyone knows who took it, most likely not knowing it wasn’t scrap, to contact him as well. He can be reached at 304-669-9294.

 

“It was likely a mistake,” he said. “That turf, however, did have some value and use to it.”

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows where the turf that was not supposed to be taken was removed from; in the area to the left of the red box. Bottom photo shows the area where the turf was stacked prior to the public removing it.