Field renovations have begun Published Nov. 4, 2011 By By Airman 1st Class Andrea F. Liechti 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- The Barksdale Fitness Center sports field is being renovated to improve the grass quality and safety of the field. Construction is expected to last until the first week in December and the grass is scheduled to be in good condition by July 2012. "The renovations were necessary," said Michael Kaplan, 2nd Force Support Squadron chief of fitness and sports. "Animals were digging large holes throughout which caused safety concerns for those playing intramural sports." The renovations include killing off the weeds, digging up the field, tilling it, raising the dirt up an inch and smoothing it out. Once all of that is completed, new sprinklers will be installed and the sod will be rolled out. Airman 1st Class Anastasia Raiford, 2 FSS fitness specialist, is glad the holes throughout the field are being fixed. "The potential of intramural players can be shown on the field once it's leveled out," she said. "The players won't have to be worried about stepping into a hole." Once the holes are leveled out, the main concern of the fitness center will be keeping the grass weed-free, Kaplan said. Kaplan will be attending additional training on how to make the field here exceptional. He will learn how to feed the grass, what length to mow it and how to keep it weed free. "It'll be great to have actual grass and not a field of weeds," said Kaplan. "It is our hope to get our own lawnmower to ensure we are cutting the field with clean blades to prevent weeds from spreading." Intramurals will be slightly affected with the renovations. Soccer intramurals will be played by the softball fields for this season. By the time football intramurals begin again, players should expect plush, green grass to play on. For the runners out there, Kaplan said the track will be free of dirt by the first week in December. In the meantime, he recommends running on the down-and-back or the trail next to the dorms. Physical training tests will take place on the down-and-back until the track reopens, he said.