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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012
LET THERE BE LIGHTS
Sports groups ban together for better fields Synthetic turf builds outdoor classroom BY JOSH SUMAN BELLEVUE REPORTER
A visit to the Bellevue Botanical Garden turns into a special treat for visitors Thursday, Nov. 8 as lights for the upcoming Garden D’Lights are being installed by volunteers. From left is Shannon Maynor, holding Elizabeth on her back, and her other children, Isaac, Jarah and Naomi. On the right is Kristie Walker, holding Aria, and her daughter, Annie. CRAIG GROSHART, Bellevue Reporter
Botanical Garden getting its holiday sparkle on
For years, Tobey Bryant heard the complaints. No matter which of the many sports – baseball, lacrosse, soccer – she watched her children compete in around Bellevue, the common refrain from fellow parents and her children’s coaches was the same: the fields needed help. The typically soggy climate reduced the natural grass surfaces to a mess of mud and puddles during most of the year, while infields surfaced with amended sand turned to dustbowls throughout the drier summer months. For Bryant, the solution seemed obvious. “What made me put it all together was the complaints in all the sports,” she said. “So we decided to get a group together and try to do something.” The result was Bellevue Clubs for Bellevue Fields, a community advocacy group focused on making sure the fields that surround the newly renovated elementary and middle schools in Bellevue receive a share of the funds and attention given to the facility itself. The goal is to improve the fields by eliminating natural grass in favor of a synthetic surface similar to what exists at the high school stadiums and city parks like Robinswood, and then line them for multiple sports so youth and adult leagues can utilize them year-round. More than 14 sports clubs from Bellevue are part of the group, which collectively represents more than 7,000 athletes. SEE FIELDS, 5
Volunteers installing 500,000 twinkling lights
Tom Furin installs lights on bushes near the entrance to the Bellevue Botanical Garden.
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A holiday tradition is coming together at the Bellevue Botanical Garden as Bellevue Park Department personnel and volunteers work to install 500,000 lights that make up the Garden D’Lights display. The lights transform the garden into a blossoming winter wonderland that attracts more than 150,000 people each December. The display is inspired by plants found in Northwest gardens and gardens around the world. The extended route through the garden is enhanced with a flowing river in lights and four waterfalls. There’s also a pond and border display on the main lawn. To make it happen, hundreds of volunteers work to make new
creations along with old favorites. In 2011 Snap d’Dragon joined the list of over 30 “critters” including Charlotte in her web and Willie the Slug. Also popular is the “Aquarium in Lights” in the Visitor Center with the pulsing jellyfish and the garden’s own octopus. Garden D’Lights is on view from 5-10 p.m. from Nov. 24 through Dec. 31. Last entry to the exhibit is 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 per person; children age 10 and under free. There also are free nights for everyone from Nov. 26-29 and Dec. 3-6. Money raised helps support the Botanical Garden. Tickets can be purchased online at www.gardendlights.com.
Jack McLeod, facilities director with the Bellevue School District, stands at the nearly completed multipurpose field and track at International School. McLeod said the synthetic surface will be applied over the black surface known as “E-Layer,” which provides superior cushioning and is more easily surfaced when the carpet’s shelf life of 10 years expires. JOSH SUMAN, Bellevue Reporter