Town of Seekonk

Parks and Recreation Committee

Inclement Weather Guidelines

The Director of Recreation or a designee thereof has the right to cancel any activity or event on a town 

recreational facility at any time to ensure the safety of the participants and to prevent town fields from getting 

abused and destroyed when the turf is vulnerable.  All users of recreational facilities are REQUIRED to cancel 

an activity or event when potentially hazardous weather / field conditions exist.  In addition to the  use of 

common sense if any one of the following conditions exist immediate cancellation is mandatory:

1. Downpours, heavy rains, ongoing showers, snow, sleet, hail etc.

2. Standing puddles of water on a field.

3. Footing is unsure and slippery.

4. Ground is waterlogged and slushy or squishy.

5. Grass can be pulled out of the ground easily.

6. Lightning: Minimum of 30 minutes with no reoccurrence before re-entering the field.

The safety and well being of persons participating in athletic programs is of primary concern.  Sports related 

injuries caused by poor playing conditions can lead to career ending injuries and permanent disabilities.

Additionally, when games are played on fields with poor conditions, it often causes irreversible damage to the 

fields.  Surface damage is obvious and visible but as of equal concern from maintenance perspective is the subsurface damage.

It shall be the responsibility of the individual who signed the permit to ensure that all individuals, teams or 

groups using a town recreational field do not use and / or vacate the field(s) when said conditions exist.

Each League or Organization shall (1) provide a copy of these guidelines to each board member and coach 

within their organization (2) provide a copy of these guidelines to any officiating organizations that may control 

the suspension of a game or match once play has begun and (3) post these guidelines on their official website.

Teams or leagues that refuse to follow this policy will be subjected to one or more of the following disciplinary 

actions:

1. Written warning to the President or Chairman of the organization.

2. Suspension of the team or organization from practicing on the fields for one week.

3. Forfeiture of a team’s privileges to either practice or play games on the Town of Seekonk's fields for 

the remainder of the season.

4. Having the league pay for damages caused by disregard to this policy.