By Helen Hollyer

What is quilted, is green, white and yellow and has students frolicking all over it?

The new artificial turf sports field at Creswell Middle School, of course.

On what proved to be the last sunny and rain-free day before a series of fall storms moved in to the Creswell area, students and staff alike celebrated the rain-delayed completion of installation of the sports field after their lunch period on Wednesday, Nov. 4.

About a hundred students gathered on the school's west patio, waiting impatiently for the signal to run out on the sidewalk leading through the recently seeded lawn to the still-unfinished track to the combination football/soccer field glistening in the sunlight.

When the signal came, they pelted out, bursting through the large construction-paper sign made by CMS Librarian Kim Jordan to commemorate the re-opening of Pierre Roberts Field and spread out over the field, tossing footballs, kicking soccer balls, passing volleyballs and flinging Frisbees.

Some even got up close and personal with the artificial turf surface, whose black rubber granules were still visible between the blades of bright green "grass."

Sunlight sparkled off the brilliantly colored field, and Creswell School District Business Manager Jennifer Heiss said that the installers predicted that the field would be even more spectacular in about three weeks, after rain and use had helped move the granules deeper into the surface.

Heiss observed that the previous day, Nov. 3, marked the two-year anniversary of the passage of the bond issue that paid for construction of the new middle school building and sports fields, as well as a new bus barn located near Creslane Elementary School.

Before releasing the students to frolic on the field, CMS Principal Shirley Burrus reminded them that, although the facility is designed for year-round use, there are several rules that need to be observed to preserve its pristine surface.

Commenting that the community is welcome to use the facility, Burrus requested cooperation from students, staff and community members to keep the turf in great shape. Certain activities are prohibited on the track or field, including the following:

No dogs or animals.

No food or drink other than water.

No sunflower seeds, gum or candy.

No metal cleats; only rubber or plastic cleats are permitted.

No chairs, tables or canopy tents.

No motor vehicles.

No bicycles, skateboards or scooters.

Signage will be posted to remind facility users of the rules, and there will be video surveillance of the building, parking lots, terrace, track and field.

The track is usable, although the final surface will not be installed over the asphalt until weather permits sometime next spring when at least two weeks of above 50-degree weather is predicted.

Softball and baseball fields are to be installed in the northwest corner of the CMS property next spring, also when weather permits.