DENVER -- All Denver Parks and Recreation soccer, football, baseball, rugby, lacrosse, and volleyball fields will not be permitted for play until March due to continuing drought conditions, the city announced Tuesday.

"We will continue to adjust our level of service, depending on drought conditions," said James Mejia, manager of Denver Parks and Recreation. "In preparation for the upcoming spring and summer athletic season, we feel that this delay will help to minimize field stress during a regular play season. We will continue to monitor the impact that the drought is having on the fields and adjust accordingly. It is possible that the public may see further delays if there isn't sufficient in-town rainfall."

A total of 300 athletic fields are affected. They are used by youth and adult sports organizations, Denver Public Schools and parks and recreation programs.

Since Denver has not received the anticipated precipitation this winter, in an effort to prepare for the play season, Mejia decided that by delaying the opening by two weeks, the turf had a better chance of surviving the wear and tear the fields experience during the spring, summer and fall months.

The turf on the fields is currently in a dormant stage, Mejia said. In this stage, because of the lack of precipitation, the turf continues to harden and becomes more compact, which makes it difficult for it to survive.