Reckling Park To Get New Playing Surface For 2023 Season

HOUSTON: Rice University has approved plans to replace the natural grass field at Reckling Park with a state-of-the-art Act Global^TM NR34 synthetic turf playing surface in time for the opening of drills in the fall of 2022.

The renovation of the 23-year-old facility's playing surface was made possible by a lead gift from former Owl and World Series champion Anthony Rendon and his wife Amanda, through their foundation Husky Owl, along with support from Rice alumni JC and Jen Kneale, the RBI Club and Rice University.

"Amanda and I are excited to be a part of helping the next generation of Rice Baseball," Rendon said. "That program, and the people associated with it, helped us to be successful both on the field and in life. We wish the same for those that follow."
"We are grateful to Anthony and Amanda Rendon for their signature gift to our baseball program," Joe Karlgaard, Rice Director of Athletics, Recreation, and Lifetime Fitness said. "Anthony has made Rice proud as a college and professional baseball superstar, and we are honored that he and Amanda feel strongly enough about our university to contribute so meaningfully. I am also thankful for the significant financial support from the university and the RBI Club to build a first-class field."

"Anthony Rendon embodies the best of what our program offers, both on and off the field," said Bixby Family Head Baseball Coach Jose Cruz Jr. "He represents Rice with pride and wants this program to remain the gateway to success for future generations of baseball players. Every player who steps on this field will know it came from someone who was once in their same shoes. Anthony and Amanda's gift made this project possible and we are ready to move forward thanks to the support from the Rice administration as well as the members of the RBI Club who were all in from the start."

"The RBI Club's mission is to provide support to enhance the experience of our baseball student-athletes and to advance the competitive success of Rice Baseball," said Bo Johnson '94, RBI Board President and baseball alumnus. "The investment in the turf field not only aligns with our mission but supports Coach Cruz's vision for our baseball program. I want to thank the contributors to the RBI Club for their support and for making this investment possible."

Texas- based sports field construction company Ryan-Sanders Sports Services, (RS3 Turf) will be the installer for the project. Rice will become the RS3 Turf signature NCAA Division I baseball field featuring its new NR34 system manufactured by Act Global. Features of the NR34 system include a natural ball bounce, reduced infill splash, and a ball pace that closely simulates a natural grass playing surface. The feature infill will be an organic Brockfill (wood chips as opposed to rubber) specifically designed to reduce surface heat in the summer. A Brockpad will also be featured to help reduce surface impact and promote player safety. RS3 (parent company Ryan Sanders) has been based in Texas for the past 22 years.

"In my time in baseball, I have seen how far the technology for artificial fields has advanced to create the optimal playing experience while eliminating all the challenges of maintaining a traditional grass field," Cruz stated. "The NR34 system will be a stunning enhancement to Reckling Park and one I know our current players and incoming recruits are going to love."

In addition to serving as the home field for five of the Owls' seven College World Series teams, Reckling Park has hosted 10 NCAA Regional, five NCAA Super Regionals, and a pair of Conference USA Championships since it first opened in 2000. The original field was renovated after the 2007 season to install an upgraded drainage system that vastly increased the facility's ability to withstand the impact of thunderstorms.

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