The City of Roswell is moving forward with a bond-funded construction project at Grimes Bridge Park to modernize two soccer fields, improve safety and accessibility, and address long-standing drainage and infrastructure challenges at one of the City’s most heavily used soccer facilities.
At its October 28, 2025 meeting, Roswell City Council approved awarding a construction contract to Precision Turf, LLC in the amount of approximately $3,564,554.32, with a total project budget of approximately $3,989,870.32. Funding for the project is provided through the voter-approved 2022 Parks Bond Program, which supports capital improvements to recreation and parks facilities across the city.
Project Overview
The Grimes Bridge Park Soccer Field Construction Project is a comprehensive infrastructure upgrade designed to improve long-term performance and reliability. The project includes:
- Conversion of two natural grass soccer fields to artificial turf
- Removal and replacement of the retaining wall between the fields, including construction of a new stairway connecting the two playing surfaces
- Replacement of fencing and netting to improve player and spectator safety
- Installation of stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) to meet regulatory requirements and reduce downstream impacts
- Rehabilitation of the on-site detention pond to improve drainage performance and water quality
Why Roswell Is Investing Now?
Many of Roswell’s parks and recreation facilities were built in the mid-1980s through the 1990s and are now reaching the point where reinvestment is necessary to maintain safe, reliable service. The 2022 Parks Bond Program was developed to address aging infrastructure, deferred maintenance, and capacity needs across the system.
At Grimes Bridge Park, the soccer fields were originally constructed in the early 2000s on native soil and granite bedrock. While the natural grass surface has improved in recent years, these underlying conditions make drainage difficult and contribute to frequent field closures after rain events, particularly during peak programming seasons.
Artificial Turf v.s. Natural Grass
City staff evaluated both natural grass and artificial turf with a focus on how the fields are used today and what is needed to support soccer programming in the future.
While natural grass provides an excellent playing experience, it has proven difficult to sustain under the level of year-round use at Grimes Bridge Park. The fields experience frequent rainouts and must be taken offline for extended periods each year—typically during winter and summer months—to allow for turf replacement and recovery. These closures limit access for youth and adult programs and reduce overall field availability during peak demand.
Artificial turf provides a more reliable playing surface that allows the fields to remain open more consistently throughout the year. With proper maintenance, the turf system selected for this project—a three-layer system consistent with turf fields at Roswell Area Park, East Roswell Park, and Groveway Park—is expected to have a useful lifespan of approximately 10 years and includes an eight-year manufacturer warranty.
From an operational standpoint, the conversion reduces the amount of staff time required for intensive natural grass maintenance. The City estimates a savings of approximately 29 staff hours per week from February through November, allowing maintenance crews to be reallocated to other park priorities across the system.
The turf conversion also supports program needs. A full-size artificial turf field is required by the Developmental Players League, which serves as the home of Roswell’s Select soccer programs. In addition, artificial turf allows for expanded field usage, with the flexibility to configure the fields for multiple age groups and activities rather than limiting use to a single field layout.
Together, these benefits allow the City to maximize field access, support both competitive and recreational soccer, and better meet community demand while balancing long-term maintenance and operational considerations.
Stormwater Improvements and Tree Impacts
Some tree removals will be required to complete stormwater improvements. Final tree impacts and mitigation plans will be shared with the community once construction staging and logistics are finalized.
Construction Access, Parking & Traffic Impacts
During construction, activities and access to the Adult Recreation Center will not be disrupted, and the facility will remain open.
However, some parking spaces adjacent to the soccer fields will not be accessible to the public during construction. In addition, there will be temporary one-way vehicular traffic patterns in place through Grimes Bridge Park and Groveway Park to accommodate construction activity and ensure safety.
The City will provide advance notice of traffic pattern changes, parking adjustments, and access updates throughout the construction period.
Timeline At A Glance
- Committee Review: October 28, 2025
- Roswell City Council Authorization: November 10, 2025
- Contract signed: December 1, 2025
- Construction starts: January 2026
- Project Completion: August 2026
Completing the project by late summer 2026 is especially important as the Atlanta region prepares for increased soccer participation associated with the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will bring heightened interest in the sport and additional demand for local fields.
Stay informed
Construction updates, access notices, and additional project details will be posted on RoswellConnections.com. Search “Grimes Bridge Park” to follow progress.
