Immokalee sports fields to get turf upgrade, boosting community spirit

IMMOKALEE, Fla. - Sports fields in Immokalee are getting a much-needed upgrade, addressing concerns raised by local residents. Collier County Public Schools announced plans to install turf on three fields next to Immokalee High School, part of a new agreement with the county approved this week.

Diane Rios Martinez, a concerned mother, attended a WINK Listens event last month to voice her worries about poorly maintained fields in her community.

"That's a struggle throughout the years," said Martinez.

"We have people in a community that want to help, that our coaches, you know, and volunteers that really want a better, you know, property, better space for them to play on," she said.

WINK News reporter Maddie Herron explored how this change is set to impact the community beyond sports.

Steven J. Dodson Memorial Baseball Field, home to Immokalee High School's baseball team, will be one of the fields receiving turf. Freshman Israel Gallegos has been playing on this field since he was five years old.

"I can't even count the amount of games that I've played on this field," said Gallegos.

"It's crazy the memories that we have on this field and the many more that we hope to make," he said.

Both the softball and baseball fields have faced challenges, particularly after bad weather.

"The biggest problem sometimes we have is the upkeep of the field," said Jeremy Breitag, head baseball coach at Immokalee High School.

Gallegos shared his experiences with weather-related issues.

"I remember showing up to practice on days where my spots flooded and we have to rake it out, and sometimes we can't even rake it out," he said.

Senior softball player Remey Rodriguez expressed her concerns about the field conditions.

"The field is maintained to us like certain standard, but I don't think it's the best," said Rodriguez.

The new turf and improvements will benefit not just the school but the entire community.

"We're going to have the new turf, we're going to have the new school boards, and it's going to go from not just something that Immokalee High School can use on a day basis, but the community," said the principal of Immokalee High School.

Rodriguez said she and her teammates would like the upgrades because it would allow them to practice on rainy days and make it easier to maintain the field.

The new agreement makes the school district responsible for maintaining the fields, offering a sense of ownership.

"I feel like we're deserving of a field of our own to call home. We've never had that," said Jacob Martinez, head softball coach at Immokalee High School.

Gallegos highlighted the broader community impact.

"I think it'll just make everything, like I said, a lot more fluent, a lot easier for the community of Immokalee, how the kids in little league will be able to use these fields and also bring them memories," he said.

The principal at Immokalee High School shared with WINK News that the turf is set to be placed over the summer, marking a new chapter for the fields and the community.