The transformation of the asphalt schoolyard to a soccer field at our neighborhood Catholic school is almost complete. We've been following the construction on this blog since Fourth of July weekend; they got the artificial turf down this past week, in time for Labor Day and the new school year:

They've also re-laid a section of the blacktop for a basketball court, and a small piece of property is left over, reportedly for some kind of park-like area. It will be a pretty small park.

You talk about levelling the playing field -- they've definitely done that. As one can see, there's a bit of a slope on that block, and the retainer around the field accentuates it:

It won't be long before the kids are out there kicking and screaming off lots of energy. But they had better wait until things cool off a bit. Today at midday, it was mighty hot on that turf. And it's lot less cushy underfoot than I thought it was going to be. I don't think the knees of those uniform pants are much more secure than they were in the old days (three months ago).