Current print subscribers can create a free account by clicking here
Otherwise, follow the link below to join.
To Our Valued Readers –
Visitors to our website will be limited to five stories per month unless they opt to subscribe. The five stories do not include our exclusive content written by our journalists.
For $6.99, less than 20 cents a day, digital subscribers will receive unlimited access to YourValley.net, including exclusive content from our newsroom and access to our Daily Independent e-edition.
Our commitment to balanced, fair reporting and local coverage provides insight and perspective not found anywhere else.
Your financial commitment will help to preserve the kind of honest journalism produced by our reporters and editors. We trust you agree that independent journalism is an essential component of our democracy. Please click here to subscribe.
The San Diego Padres, who call the Peoria Sports Complex their home during spring training, will get some unexpected clubhouse improvements.
Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities Director John Sefton said the clubhouse carpet has experienced ongoing failure since it was installed seven seasons ago, delaminating from the floor, especially in high-traffic areas. This has created a safety hazard and is in need of repair, he said.
The Peoria City Council approved a budget amendment authorizing the appropriation of $200,000 to complete the replacement of the failing carpet in the clubhouse at the Peoria Sports Complex, 16101 N. 83rd Ave.
Mr. Sefton said the current carpet was installed in 2013. About 18 months after the installation it began to fray at the seems and contractors glued it back. But three years later additional frays at high traffic areas occurred, he said.
The contractor made repairs at their cost even though the installation warranty had expired, Mr. Sefton said.
“The general contractor conducted a series of tests looking at everything from the product to materials, pre-existing flooring, carpet glue, installation methods, active wear and tear, a complete analysis. The study didn’t identify one contributing factor as to why it delaminated,” Mr. Sefton said. “There was no one reason why it went bad. But I could probably suggest that there were several hundred 6-foot-tall 200-pound athletes walking over this area several times a day as a contributing factor, among other things.”
The first game of spring training is Feb. 22.
In the meantime, the city will scope a new carpet that will endure the facility’s unique users and their unique impact on the space. For this season, contractors will fix the carpet on an interim basis to mitigate safety, and then a permanent fix will be installed after spring training.
Philip Haldiman can be reached at 623-876-3697, phaldiman@newszap.com, or on Twitter @philiphaldiman.
Philip Haldiman is a third generation Arizona native with brief residencies on the east and west coasts.
He has bachelor’s degrees in Theater and Journalism at Arizona State University, and is an award winning journalist with more than 15 years worth of experience in reporting and editing.
Most recently, he took first place for investigative reporting and third place for best sustained coverage or series at the 2023 Arizona Newspapers Association awards.
In his free time, he produces an autobiographical comic book about his time spent in Hollywood and his life as a cult film star.
By 
