A new million-dollar turf field in Annapolis (MD) lies at the center of a growing dispute over access that escalated last month when police were called after a coach refused to leave it.
The field opened with fanfare last year behind the Boys & Girls Clubs of Annapolis & Anne Arundel County. Orioles’ legend Cal Ripken Jr. attended the opening ceremony. Donors and state legislators said the new field would extend youth sports to families that can’t afford to play.
One year later, however, the artificial turf field is mostly used by travel soccer teams and St. Mary’s High School, while the Boys & Girls Club works to revive its own sports, scaled back in recent years to save money.
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