We know they do, and we need their help to protect pollinators like the beautiful Anna’s blue butterfly pictured here.
This fellow and more than 70 other species of pollinators have been photographed at the Brennan Park soccer fields. Last summer we noticed that extensive damage was being done to an area of very special wildflowers just south of the artificial turf field. During some practices, a portable net was being placed east of the southern backstop, and soccer balls that missed the net were landing in the patch of tall flowers. Not realizing that the plants were important, players were then trampling the flowers as they searched for and retrieved the balls. By August, more than 50% of the plants were trampled and, as a result, the diversity and number of insects in the area was much lower than in previous years.
Goldenrod that was trampled by players searching for soccer balls outside the artificial turf field at Brennan Park, August 2025.
We’d like to work with the coaches and players to make things better this year. One possibility would be to set the practice net on the west side of the field, closest to Highway 99. That way, when balls miss the net and go over the fence, they’d end up under the willow trees where there are no banks of flowers to damage.
If you are able to connect us with anyone involved with soccer at the artificial turf field, please contact us. Let’s work together to help keep this year’s flowers ready for the hungry butterflies.
Anna’s blue showing the underside of his wings while feeding in the goldenrod at Brennan Park.