The question of turf ... an old one

After rainy football seasons at Kingston Stadium in the late 1960s that saw between 30 and 40 games tear up the sodded field, a push began to replace the sod with artificial turf.

The proposal was rejected by the school board in 1967 and 1968 because there was no money to pay for it. Artificial turf would cost between $250,000 and $400,000.

But those who saw the advantages of a permanent playing field kept trying and 1970 saw a Herculean effort to get artificial turf on a bond issue and get that issue passed. A special committee promoted the turf as a way to use the stadium year-round for all kinds of sporting events as well as cut maintenance costs and reduce player injuries.

The bond issue was set for Dec. 14. The school board asked for $300,000 with $80,000 raised through donations. Several fundraisers included a Sept. 14 Jamboree involving all eight high school football teams in the Cedar Rapids-Marion metro area.  (It rained constantly that day and the event became known as "The Mud Bowl".)

At last, the vote.  Even with a heavy voter turnout, the bond issue to replace sod with artificial turf at Kingston received only 32% approval. It needed 60%. It did achieve a record, however. The previous low approval rate for a bond issue was 40%.