Lakewood Memorial Field rich in history and tradition
LAKEWOOD — A mix of new technology and innovations has been applied to one of the oldest prep sports venues in Colorado.
Lakewood Memorial Field (10th Ave. and Wadsworth Blvd. in Lakewood) wraps up another regular season of boys soccer games this week. LMF, one of four district stadium complexes run by Jeffco Public Schools, hosted 56 prep soccer games this fall season.
This was the third boys soccer season with the new XtraGrass at LMF that was installed in the summer of 2014. The hybrid surface is a combination of synthetic fibers and natural grass to provide more durable surface for the field that hosts nearly 150 events in a calendar year.
Lakewood Memorial was the first field in the United States to have XtraGrass.
“It’s been everything we wanted it to be. I’ve been very impressed with it,” said Chris Gray, who became the stadium manager at LMF during the summer of 2014. “It plays true and plays stable. You can definitely tell the field takes a lot more games with less wear and tear. It recovers a lot quicker.”
The field at LMF has drawn plenty of attention from around the country with more than just other school districts looking into going with the same hybrid field on their own facilities.
“Turf managers from across the nation, which includes NFL, MLB, college, high school and recreation districts have traveled to LMF to learn more about this product,” said Jim Thyfault, Jeffco’s Executive Director of Athletics. “In all cases, our stadium managers are praised for their commendable work.”
While the playing surface has been a huge upgrade, there is still the old classic feel for the stadium that initially hosted track and football games for Lakewood High School and Lakewood Junior High School when both of those schools were located at 10th and Wadsworth.
The field was dedicated in 1946 to Jeffco Public Schools graduates who lost their lives in World War II. In 1977 the stadium became a dedicated soccer venue for Jeffco, along with hosting junior high football games until Lakewood Junior High School closed after the 1988-89 school year.
“It’s a heritage field. I played here when I was in high school,” said Paul Moline, D’Evelyn boys and girls soccer coach that graduated from Columbine High School. “There are generations who have played on this field that I think is really cool.”
Moline credits Thyfault for seeing the need for an upgrade of the field at Lakewood Memorial. The playing surface was native grass before the XtraGrass was put in.
“Especially teams that come outside of our county can’t believe how great our fields are, the North Area Athletic Complex (Highway 93 and 64th Parkway in Arvada) and Lakewood Memorial. We are very fortunate to have these fields,” Moline said. “They keep them in such good shape. The kids look forward to playing on these field. There are college pitches that aren’t this great. We are very lucky.”
Wheat Ridge girls soccer coach Dan Watkins has seen the upgrades in the stadium in recent years, which includes the replacement of the original scoreboard this fall. There was also a secondary scoreboard placed on the concession stand building before the start of school year.
“The new field and scoreboard has turned a great soccer only venue into an absolute first-class soccer stadium,” said Watkins who guided the Farmers to back-to-back Class 4A girls soccer state titles in 2009 and 2010. “Former players who have gone on and played at college have come back and marveled at the facility. Chris Gray does a remarkable job making everything about LMF a first-class experience.”
The most memorable game Watkins recalled at Lakewood Memorial was in 2009 when Wheat Ridge faced rival Golden in the state quarterfinals.
“Playoff games under the lights at LMF have always been special events, but playing our rival made it that much sweeter,” Watkins said recalling the game. “I remember the crowd being at capacity with all of the seating full and people standing on the hill and along the fence. It was probably the loudest and most energetic I remember.”
Lakewood Memorial Field has stood the test of time with generations of Jeffco families using and seeing the upgrades to the classic stadium.
“With the addition of the XtraGrass field and the new scoreboards at LMF, we are extremely grateful to district leaders for allowing us to take one of the oldest high school stadiums in the state and converting it into, arguably, the nicest facility for players and coaches,” Thyfault said.
NOTE: This is the second part of a four-part series this school year on Jeffco Public Schools’ stadium venues — North Area Athletic Complex, Lakewood Memorial Field, Trailblazer Stadium and Jeffco Stadium.
