Chattanooga police push last call for PAL Kickball Turf Wars

Chattanooga police made a final push for the 2nd annual PAL Kickball Turf Wars, posting a “last call for kickball” reminder four days before the event. The department said the tournament was free, open to kids ages 12 to 18, and open to all skill levels, with the contact number listed as (423) 544-2841. By the time of the final reminder, only a few spots remained.

The department had already laid out the event details in earlier social posts: the Turf Wars were set for July 22, 2026, at 1:00 PM at Finley Stadium, 1826 Reggie White Blvd., in Chattanooga. One post leaned into the promotion with the line “LET’S KICK IT!” and put the focus squarely on youth participation, not a closed or invite-only field. Hits 96 also identified sign-ups as open for local youth ahead of the date.

The bigger story is how Chattanooga police are using kickball. Chattanooga.gov describes CPD’s PAL program as a newly formed Police Activities League effort, and the city says community outreach is used to foster positive police-community relations. A Police Activities League description calls PAL a youth crime prevention program that uses educational, athletic, and other recreational activities, which puts the Turf Wars directly inside that mission.

That is what gives the second annual label real weight. CPD brought the Turf Wars back for another run, and the late-stage push for registrations showed the department was still working to fill the field. The format is simple on purpose: a familiar playground sport, a stadium setting, and a chance for families, kids, and officers to share the same space without the barrier of a more specialized sport.

For Chattanooga, the appeal was not just the game itself. It was the combination of a free entry point, a wide age range, and a public-service program that uses athletics to make contact feel natural. The department’s final reminder made clear that the window was closing, but the goal stayed broad: get more young players on the turf and turn a kickball tournament into a visible part of police-community outreach.