Halifax park faces post-Stones repairs

Sports enthusiasts in Halifax are discovering what 50,000 soaking, dancing Rolling Stones fans can do to their fields.

A combination of rain, heavy equipment and huge crowds churned parts of the Halifax Common into a muddy mess Saturday night.

"There's a lot of damage on the fields where we play most," Greg VanSlyke, with the Halifax Ultimate Recreational League, said Sunday as he watched 250 workers tear down the stage.

"It's pretty much a mud pit."

Concert organizers expected the trampling feet, trucks and forklifts would be hard on the grass, so they had agreed to repair any damage.

It's unclear how much it will cost to restore the fields or when work will begin, thoughit has to be done before the ground freezes or wait until afterit thaws in the spring.

Once the work is complete, the Halifax Regional Municipality will present a bill to the concert organizers, minus $100,000 it has set aside.

But fixing the Common will be an easy job that costs no more than $6,000, said Donald Tarlton, with promotion company Donald K Donald.

"Plant some seed, roll down a couple of ruts," he said. "There's nothing but good news happening at the Common."

VanSlyke hopes the fields will be ready for June whenhis league resumes play.