The first turf field in Chesterfield County Public Schools officially opened Aug. 24. Be- fore the L.C. Bird High School Skyhawks hosted the Rapids of James River High School to kick off football season, a ribbon-cutting took place on the 50-yard line of Bird High’s new Sprinturf Ultrablade field.

Among the student groups who will benefit from Bird High’s turf field are the football team, marching band, cheerleaders, field hockey team, lacrosse team, soccer team and track and field team.

Synthetic turf allows the field to be used year-round, by eliminating downtime for grass growth and reducing rain delays. In addition to renewing the multipurpose field, this project improves accessibility, event areas and drainage.

Sprinturf Ultrablade fields have been installed at Bird High and at Monacan High (where a September ribbon-cutting is planned). The Chesterfield

County Board of Supervisors covered the $2 million cost for each site, and the county Parks and Recreation Department managed the projects in coordination with Chesterfield County Public Schools.

New pickleball complex coming to Pouncey Tract Park

Henrico County officials broke ground for the construction on a championship pickleball complex on Saturday. The $4.4 million project will provide two championship courts and 10 standard courts plus covered spectator seating, LED court lighting, a 103-space parking lot, road improvements and an underground stormwater detention facility. The courts are expected to be ready for play in June.

Pouncey Tract Park is located at 4747 Pouncey Tract Road in Glen Allen.

Of note: The Henrico County Division of Recreation & Parks currently has 26 pickle-ball courts at four locations: 12 at Pouncey Tract Park, eight at The Springs Recreation Center, two at the Sandston Recreation Area and four at Hidden Creek Park. Since 2020, Henrico has attracted more than 3,800 pickle-ball players to Pouncey Tract and other sites for pickle-ball tournaments, including the Virginia Pickleboo Classic and Virginia Pickleball Classic.