Roswell will unveil two new artificial turf soccer fields at Grimes Bridge Park on Thursday, Sept. 24, capping a $3.6 million upgrade funded by the 2022 Parks Bond.

The ribbon-cutting starts at 10 a.m. Mayor Mary Robichaux's August/September newsletter described the event as a celebration of improved safety, field durability and stormwater management at the park.

The project replaced two natural grass fields that had been plagued by drainage problems since they were built in the early 2000s on native soil and granite bedrock. Frequent closures after rain made the fields unreliable for leagues and recreational players.

The new fields fix that.

Roswell City Council authorized a $3.56 million construction contract to Precision Turf, LLC on Nov. 10, 2025, after a council committee reviewed it Oct. 28, according to the city's project page on RoswellConnections.com. Crews broke ground in January 2026. The retaining wall between the two fields was finished by June, and turf installation began in July.

The new three-layer turf system matches fields already in use at Roswell Area Park, East Roswell Park and Groveway Park. It carries an eight-year manufacturer warranty and an expected lifespan of about 10 years.

Beyond the turf, the project included a new stairway connecting the two playing surfaces, replaced fencing and netting, rehabilitated the on-site detention pond and added a new plaza area outside the fields. The project also required removing 103 trees, most of them around the detention pond, with 28 to be replanted as part of restoration work. Landscaping and tree replanting are planned for later this fall, according to a July construction update.

The city estimates the conversion will save about 29 staff hours per week from February through November, freeing maintenance crews for other park work.

The upgrade also matters for competitive play. A full-size artificial turf field is required by the Developmental Players League, home of Roswell's Select soccer programs. The completion comes as the Atlanta region prepares for increased soccer participation tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Grimes Bridge ceremony is the second bond-funded ribbon-cutting scheduled in September. The mayor's newsletter also listed a Sept. 10 ceremony for the Roswell Area Park pond restoration. Residents can search "Grimes Bridge" on RoswellConnections.com for project updates.