News: From the Sidelines: Give the Grass a Break!

Date Published	Author
7/15/2026 12:00:00 AM	Portland Athletic Facilities Team

Mid-Summer Rest Period for Select Grass Fields Starts July 26

From the Sidelines: 
Why Our Fields Need a Mid-Summer Rest

If you have walked past Quinn Field, Fox Field, or the Deering High School fields recently, you have likely seen our hardworking City ballfields crew mowing, trimming, and prepping these spaces for continuous play. These grass surfaces are some of the most heavily utilized public spaces in Portland, serving thousands of residents, community leagues, and youth groups throughout the spring and summer

To ensure these fields can withstand the intense demands of the upcoming autumn, we are introducing a three-week rest period from July 26 to August 15 for a few of our highest-traffic grass locations:

• Quinn Field at Deering Oaks
• DHS Athletic Complex: 
• DHS Field 1 (Harlow & Softball Outfields) 
• DHS Field 2
• Fox Field at Kennedy Park

The Science of the "Rest Period"

While a field might look green and ready on the surface, heavy use may have compacted the soil. This three-week window gives our turf team the opportunity to aerate, overseed, and top-dress these fields. Just like a student-athlete, grass needs recovery time. Giving the newly planted grass seed uninterrupted time to firmly root and fill in bare spots now is the only way to ensure the ground remains stable, safe, and playable through November.

A Shared Community Resource

In Portland, our public parks truly serve as a shared backyard for everyone—including our local middle and high school athletic teams. Because our student-athletes share these city-maintained spaces with the neighborhood, this temporary pause is a collaborative investment. Giving the grass a brief rest now ensures that when our kids kick off their fall season on August 17, they are stepping onto a surface that is both safe and built to last.

Where to Play Instead

We ask that all residents—from neighborhood families to informal pickup groups—please stay off these specific fields while the new grass is rooting. In the meantime, Portland has fantastic alternative green spaces and courts nearby that remain fully open:

• Payson Park (Payson Multi & Payson B)
• North Deering Field
• Preble Fields 1 and 2
• Fox Street Futsal Court (directly adjacent to Fox Field!)
• Fitzpatrick and Memorial Stadiums (available via MyRec)

Remember, any organized play on Portland athletic fields requires a permit. You can check facility schedules, view our Athletic Facility Reference Guide, and secure your permits on our MyRec portal. Thank you for helping us keep Portland's fields safe, green, and ready for game day!