OVERLAND PARK, KS — Elected officials here on Monday, May 5, approved a $12.9 million bid for the installation of synthetic turf on 12 fields at the Overland Park Soccer Complex.

The city budged $14.6 million for the turf, but the entire project is estimated to cost about $35 million, according to the Kansas City Star.

Nearly 1.2 million sq. ft. of synthetic turf will be installed on the 12 lighted fields. One official said that is enough turf to cover the average front yard of about 460 homes in the Kansas City suburb.

The media reports the fields are expected to be completed by Aug. 1, 2009, and available for play the following month. They are expected to meet the needs of the city's growing demand for youth soccer facilities.

Reports in the local media did not indicate the particular synthetic turf supplier but indicated that McAnany Construction Company is doing the installations.

“Construction Continues on the Overland Park Soccer Complex,” Kansas City Infozine, May 7

“Overland Park soccer fields to get $13 million blanket of artificial turf,” Primebuzz, Kansas City Star, May 6