Indoor sports facility announced

[billhoward]

One step at a time.  Ithaca Planning Board has some suggestions.  
https://ithacavoice.org/2024/01/planning-board-reviews-continue-for-waters-edge-new-cornell-fieldhouse/#meinig-fieldhouse

The board had some suggestions. Daniel Correa lauded the use of Sasaki Associates as landscape architect, but felt the landscaping was lacking in interest, and suggested decorative boulders or a small-quad like layout, and Chair Mitch Glass added that "it needs a lot more attention." Emily Petrina liked the building design, and wanted Cornell to commit to solar arrays on the roof. There were also some concerns about the use of a synthetic turf field.

Having covered small- and medium-size planning board meetings, I am fearful of planning boards elsewhere that make well-intended and sometimes clueless suggestions. (Example: In present day historic districts, rejecting as bad taste colorful paint colors on late 1800s Victorian houses, not knowing bold colors were not uncommon common then (the painted ladies), and the boldest colors cost more so it was an indication of wealth.) If IV writer Brian Crandall quoted them accurately (he has been writing for some time), what else do you install on the ground of an indoor building if not synthetic turf?

Solar panels are a good idea but add initial cost. Decorative rocks? I believe even the larger Alumni Fields of fifty years ago had no rocks. Maybe Cornell should get credit for the rocks around Beebe Lake.

I still haven't heard how many spectators would fit for lacrosse.

[Swampy]

One step at a time.  Ithaca Planning Board has some suggestions.  
https://ithacavoice.org/2024/01/planning-board-reviews-continue-for-waters-edge-new-cornell-fieldhouse/#meinig-fieldhouse

The board had some suggestions. Daniel Correa lauded the use of Sasaki Associates as landscape architect, but felt the landscaping was lacking in interest, and suggested decorative boulders or a small-quad like layout, and Chair Mitch Glass added that "it needs a lot more attention." Emily Petrina liked the building design, and wanted Cornell to commit to solar arrays on the roof. There were also some concerns about the use of a synthetic turf field.

Having covered small- and medium-size planning board meetings, I am fearful of planning boards elsewhere that make well-intended and sometimes clueless suggestions. (Example: In present day historic districts, rejecting as bad taste colorful paint colors on late 1800s Victorian houses, not knowing bold colors were not uncommon common then (the painted ladies), and the boldest colors cost more so it was an indication of wealth.) If IV writer Brian Crandall quoted them accurately (he has been writing for some time), what else do you install on the ground of an indoor building if not synthetic turf?

Solar panels are a good idea but add initial cost. Decorative rocks? I believe even the larger Alumni Fields of fifty years ago had no rocks. Maybe Cornell should get credit for the rocks around Beebe Lake.

I still haven't heard how many spectators would fit for lacrosse.

With luck, including great coaches and continued stellar recruiting, and assuming Ithaca weather does its part, there will be a couple of indoor games per year, and the lines to get tickets will resemble those to get season hockey tickets during the late sixties and early seventies.

[Ken711]

One step at a time.  Ithaca Planning Board has some suggestions.  
https://ithacavoice.org/2024/01/planning-board-reviews-continue-for-waters-edge-new-cornell-fieldhouse/#meinig-fieldhouse

The board had some suggestions. Daniel Correa lauded the use of Sasaki Associates as landscape architect, but felt the landscaping was lacking in interest, and suggested decorative boulders or a small-quad like layout, and Chair Mitch Glass added that "it needs a lot more attention." Emily Petrina liked the building design, and wanted Cornell to commit to solar arrays on the roof. There were also some concerns about the use of a synthetic turf field.

Having covered small- and medium-size planning board meetings, I am fearful of planning boards elsewhere that make well-intended and sometimes clueless suggestions. (Example: In present day historic districts, rejecting as bad taste colorful paint colors on late 1800s Victorian houses, not knowing bold colors were not uncommon common then (the painted ladies), and the boldest colors cost more so it was an indication of wealth.) If IV writer Brian Crandall quoted them accurately (he has been writing for some time), what else do you install on the ground of an indoor building if not synthetic turf?

Solar panels are a good idea but add initial cost. Decorative rocks? I believe even the larger Alumni Fields of fifty years ago had no rocks. Maybe Cornell should get credit for the rocks around Beebe Lake.

I still haven't heard how many spectators would fit for lacrosse.

The question on the artificial turf was for the new field hockey field that will be built in conjunction with the indoor center, not the indoor center's field surface.  They won't be installing a turf field with the ground up tires fill that has been the subject of contention.  Again this was covered in their submission material.

[Cop at Lynah]

I thought I read somewhere that 500-600 spectators accommodated for lacrosse.  I think there is upper level seating on one side

[billhoward]

I see mention of a second level in building. 500 should hold most of the fans for the February / early March games. I recall attendance numbers of 250-500 at Schoellkopf for early lax games.

Once the place is open, and since non-athlete students are said to be getting some level of access, I bet Cornell wishes it had the money to build two indoor fields.

[Ken711]

I saw in the planning documents going before the Ithaca Town Planning committee that Cornell will build the new field hockey field at the Game Farm road athletic complex, instead of next to the new fieldhouse. They will instead construct a multi-sports field next to the Meinig Fieldhouse.  That will allow this multi-sport field to be used by other variety teams, as well as for recreational use.  This is a good change that will help more variety teams as well as for general student recreational use.

[David Harding]

I saw in the planning documents going before the Ithaca Town Planning committee that Cornell will build the new field hockey field at the Game Farm road athletic complex, instead of next to the new fieldhouse. They will instead construct a multi-sports field next to the Meinig Fieldhouse.  That will allow this multi-sport field to be used by other variety teams, as well as for recreational use.  This is a good change that will help more variety teams as well as for general student recreational use.

The Ithaca Voice digs into some of the technicalities of the approval process and reports, in part

As for specific changes, the outdoor field is now larger, with the outdoor flagpole, press box and spectator seating removed, and the light poles have shifted and grown slightly, from 70 feet to 80 feet. The fieldhouse itself hasn't significantly changed, and the goal is to obtain approval by October for a Q4 2024 – Q2 2026 construction period.

Regarding the artificial turf controversy, Michaels said "we're going to have a dialog," so that issue will continue to be of concern with environmental advocacy groups.

"Why aren't we looking at natural grass here?" asked Chair Glass. "There are some great technologies around."

"Next month I will bring someone who knows more about the sciency stuff. Absolutely we should be thoughtful about when we're using plastics, and reducing it where we can,"  said Michaels.

[billhoward]

The Ithaca Voice
Regarding the artificial turf controversy, Michaels said "we're going to have a dialog," so that issue will continue to be of concern with environmental advocacy groups.

"Why aren't we looking at natural grass here?" asked Chair Glass. "There are some great technologies around."

"Next month I will bring someone who knows more about the sciency stuff. Absolutely we should be thoughtful about when we're using plastics, and reducing it where we can,"  said Michaels.

Is there some implied sarcasm there in quoting this part of the story? As to educated people not understanding that even the very best traditional, organic grass can't come close to matching the 7x24x4-seasons availability of synthetic turf?

1960s, when AstroTurf became available, it was way expensive and only big time colleges plus some pro teams could afford it. Cornell finally get artificial turf for the 1971, I believe, season, Ed Marinaro's junior year. Now, artificial turf is so cheap relative to how many grass fields it replaces, that is the go-to surface for most ever high school and quite a few rec league fields.

[upprdeck]

I don't know that field turf is all that inexpensive.  Its usability is higher though.  The fact that is also has alike a 10 yr life span has to be factored in.

[marty]

I don't know that field turf is all that inexpensive.  Its usability is higher though.  The fact that is also has alike a 10 yr life span has to be factored in.

I'm with Bill here.   Just look at how many (not necessarily well heeled) high schools justify turf.  It's sure as hell a lot different than 1971- by at least an order of magnitude.

[Ken711]

You can't utilize a grass field for a multitude of sports in the Ithaca climate, with the area's short growing season.  A artificial field turf surface is the only practical way possible unless you want a mud bowl 6 months out of the year.

[David Harding]

The Ithaca Voice
Regarding the artificial turf controversy, Michaels said "we're going to have a dialog," so that issue will continue to be of concern with environmental advocacy groups.

"Why aren't we looking at natural grass here?" asked Chair Glass. "There are some great technologies around."

"Next month I will bring someone who knows more about the sciency stuff. Absolutely we should be thoughtful about when we're using plastics, and reducing it where we can,"  said Michaels.

Is there some implied sarcasm there in quoting this part of the story? As to educated people not understanding that even the very best traditional, organic grass can't come close to matching the 7x24x4-seasons availability of synthetic turf?

1960s, when AstroTurf became available, it was way expensive and only big time colleges plus some pro teams could afford it. Cornell finally get artificial turf for the 1971, I believe, season, Ed Marinaro's junior year. Now, artificial turf is so cheap relative to how many grass fields it replaces, that is the go-to surface for most ever high school and quite a few rec league fields.

No sarcasm implied on my part.  It just seemed like the section most likely to generate comment here.  ::whistle::

[upprdeck]

You can't utilize a grass field for a multitude of sports in the Ithaca climate, with the area's short growing season.  A artificial field turf surface is the only practical way possible unless you want a mud bowl 6 months out of the year.

I agree, except many schools dont play multi sports on the grass fb field anyway.

Most schools play FB and soccer on different fields.  

One advantage is can practice more on the real field with turf.

the upkeep on turf fields is still there, just not the mowing.

Some have a track around the FB field.

Some of the bigger schools have LAx which is in the spring and doesnt really matter that much either way.

The HS kids I know playing FB prefer grass fields.  99% of them are not going on to play in college anyway and Fb games in the Mud is the thing they remember when its all said and done.  FB on turf is a diff beast.

[Swampy]

the upkeep on turf fields is still there, just not the mowing.

And the watering, fertilizing, etc, ?

[Ken711]

the upkeep on turf fields is still there, just not the mowing.

And the watering, fertilizing, etc, ?

Yep, and re-seeding.