The Fire has yet to win a game on its home turf this season, the next chance coming when the Houston Dynamo visit on Saturday, but the Toyota Park complex is looking better than ever.
Forty trees were planted along 71st Street on Thursday with players Andrew Dykstra and Marco Pappa leading the kickoff to the club's ``Fire Goes Green'' festivities. Prior to Houston match Olympic speed skating star Shani Davis will be the scarf-raiser for extended ecological awareness.
The Fire, along with Davis, will wear green uniforms against the Dynamo. They will be auctioned off after the game with proceeds going to the Chicago Fire Foundation.
In addition to the new trees work is being completed on a synthetic turf field adjacent to the Fire's practice field. Installation, which requires about a month's work, is scheduled for completion by May 1 when two youth matches will be played there as a prelude to the Fire's evening match against Chivas USA.
``Not only can the Fire practice on it,'' said club president Dave Greeley, ``but our Academy and Development teams can play on it and so can teams from throughout Chicago. That's important from a business standpoint.''