Playing Fields & Ball Diamonds

About Field Status Updates

• Reasons for Closures

  Poor weather conditions or unsafe field conditions are the primary reasons for sports field closures. Experience has shown that most turf damage occurs with field overuse or use during inclement weather. If your home field is damaged as a result of play during inclement weather the Parks Department may not be able to provide an alternative facility. Thus it is in everyone's interest to ensure that fields are not used when play damages the playing surface. In order to meet the demand for high quality fields, and ensure a safe playing field, both weather and field conditions are monitored on a weekly basis to ensure that scheduled games and practices do not:

  • Cause abnormal damage to the field surface
  • Jeopardize further scheduled use of fields
  • Compromise personal safety of league players or general public

  When a field is closed, it is the responsibility of sport team coaches to ensure that fields are not played upon. It takes the efforts of every player, parent and coach to help prevent damage and maintain satisfactory field conditions.  Any teams caught playing on the field may forfeit the right to play on that field for the remainder of the season.

• Field Closure Procedure

  Fields are inspected weekly, and more frequently as needed, by Parks for the following:

  • Standing water on field
  • Snow pack
  • Frozen Field
  • Ongoing Field Repair
  • Periods of forecasted severe weather warnings

  If any of these conditions occur, fields may be temporarily or permanently closed. Community Services will notify the general public, via the Town of Okotoks website by 4:00 pm Monday to Friday, of field status once they receive a report from Parks.

• Weekend Field Usage - Coaches Responsibilities

  Although fields may be open for play as of Friday afternoon, weather and field conditions may deteriorate by game time, including Saturday and Sunday. In these situations, it is the responsibility of field users to determine whether or not to resume play. Coaches are asked to avoid high use areas near the goals when using fields for practices, and to not practice on wet fields.
• User Discretion - Coaches Responsibilities

  With User Discretion we have empowered the user to make common sense decisions about whether or not to cancel an event on their field. We ask that if there is frost or standing water on any area of the field or it is too wet to play to postpone and reschedule the event.  Please notify Client Services the next day to advise if you have postponed an event.