Kansas City's Community America Ballpark Named Best Playing Surface in 2009
September 4, 2009 - Northern League (NL)
Kansas City Monarchs News Release
The Northern League announced that Kansas City's CommunityAmerica Ballpark was named the Best Playing Surface in 2009 as voted on by select league personnel and players. Financed both privately and publicly at a cost of $12 million dollars, CommunityAmerica Ballpark opened on June 6th, 2003 and has been a multiuse facility playing host for the Kansas City T-Bones (NL), Kansas City Wizards (MLS), and Kansas City Community College. Joey Fitzgerald, who is just completing his second season as the T-Bones Head Groundskeeper, leads the care of the field. Assisting him daily with the field during the season were Glen Aveson (Assistant Groundskeeper), Trevor Stancil, John Maas, Justin Keeton, Jay Griggs, and Mike Moyer. Fitzgerald spearheaded an operation in May '08 that replaced the old Kentucky Bluegrass surface with Patriot Bermudagrass at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. Other previous winners selected as the Best Playing Surface in the Northern League are Silver Cross Field (Joliet, IL), Newman Outdoor Field (Fargo, ND), Haymarket Park (Lincoln, NE), and Lewis & Clark Park (Sioux City, IA).
Best Playing Surface in Northern League Year Stadium Team Location
2009 CommunityAmerica Ballpark Kansas City T-Bones Kansas City, KS
2008 Silver Cross Field Joliet JackHammers Joliet, IL
2007 Newman Outdoor Field Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks Fargo, ND
2006 Silver Cross Field Joliet JackHammers Joliet, IL
2005 Haymarket Park Lincoln Saltdogs Lincoln, NE
2004 Haymarket Park Lincoln Saltdogs Lincoln, NE
2003 Haymarket Park Lincoln Saltdogs Lincoln, NE
2002 Haymarket Park Lincoln Saltdogs Lincoln, NE
2001 Haymarket Park Lincoln Saltdogs Lincoln, NE
2000 Lewis & Clark Park Sioux City Explorers Sioux City, IA
Northern League Stories from September 4, 2009
- Clutch Hit Eludes T-Bones in 4-1 Loss - Kansas City Monarchs
- RailCats Topple Kansas City 4-1 - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Goldeyes blank RedHawks - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- Broadcast Schedule Adjusted for Weekend Playoff Series - Kansas City Monarchs
- CommunityAmerica Ballpark Named Field of the Year - Kansas City Monarchs
- Kansas City's Community America Ballpark Named Best Playing Surface in 2009 - Kansas City Monarchs
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
