Over 150 people came out to “Walk For Turf ” on a misty morning recently at McMann Field.

The crowd was mostly students, ages 4-18, who raised money, anything from $20 to $500 each, to donate to “Fields for Our Future” and its effort to raise the necessary funds to resurface McMann field with an artificial turf surface.

Representatives from every athletic activity and students who are community-minded walked for what they believe is a solid investment for the school and the greater Bath community.

“Walk for Turf” was festive and fun and a lunch of turkey or humus wraps, fruit, homemade granola bars and frozen yogurt sold out and was sponsored by Mae’s Cafe, Dot’s Ice Cream and Henry and Marty’s.

Over $6,500 was raised in just 1.5 hours.

The damp conditions of the day only highlighted the urgency of an investment in a weather-friendly surface for McMann. The last two weeks of wet weather has left McMann Field with deep ruts and dangerous patches and puddles. Walking on the field itself will leave you sunk three-four inches deep in key playing areas.

Unfortunately, McMann Field lies on a layer of solid clay which prevents water from draining as easily as other fields.

Four Morse High School games were not only rescheduled, but have had to move to other communities to be played, including the last home games of the varsity football and girls soccer teams.

It’s ironic as this past Saturday I watched the University of New England lacrosse team play their game in similar wet conditions, they were on a synthetic turf field. This was the same day our Morse varsity football game had to be played in Brunswick.

On behalf of the Fields for our Future, I would like to thank the Walk for Turf sponsors, Dot’s Ice Cream, Jack Shaw and Sons, Mae’s Cafe, Mainely Embroidery, Mid Coast Eye Associates, Mid Coast Hospital, M.W. Sewall, Now You’re Cooking, and the hundreds of contributors and volunteers that have been involved in “Turf McMann” to date. We have raised close to $410,000, 70 percent of the funds necessary to start construction.

We continue to accept donations and sell bricks for our commemorative walkway. Forms can be downloaded at Fields4OurFuture.org and sent or dropped off to the Bath Parks and Recreation Department, 4 Sheridan Drive, Bath Me 04530. Pay Pal is also available.

This has to be the year “Blue goes Green”!