Plum looking to replace grass ballfields with turf, resurface football field and track
Share this post:
Plum School District officials are exploring replacing the high school baseball and softball field playing surfaces with synthetic turf, and replacing the football field turf and track.
District Athletic Director Joshua Shoop said the football turf has outlived its lifespan and fibers are starting to break down. Changing the ball fields from grass to turf would also allow for other usages and improve drainage, he said.
The estimated cost for the project is $2 million to be paid for through bond refinance savings.
District officials authorized refinancing bonds from 2010, 2012 and 2014 in an effort to save more than $3 million.
“The money can only be used for capital projects and can not go into the general fund,” Superintendent Brendan Hyland said. “The board has agreed to examine the use of those funds for upgrading our facilities for the kids.”
The board recently heard civil engineer Bernard Lamm from Common Ground and a turf and track consultant as part of a turf presentation, which was posted on the district’s website under March 2020 “related documents.” The proposed turf would have a sub base, sand, rubber infill, yarn and an elastic layer.
Having an elastic layer would improve player safety and increase shock absorption, according to the presentation.
The goal is to send out requests for proposals by March 20 and review them in early April for possible approval later that month.
Lamm said they would review proposals from manufacturers to ensure the district receives the best products and services.
The district will use a state purchases program instead of the usual bidding process.
“Going through the state purchasing program allows us to receive extremely competitive proposals from reputable companies while also increasing our negotiating power after they are submitted ensuring the highest quality at the lowest price,” Hyland said, “We are finding a significant amount of interest in the project which we believe will drive down the cost.”
Work would begin after graduation in June with the hope of having the football field and track done before fall sports practice on Aug. 17.
The baseball and softball fields would likely take a little longer due to permitting issues. Adding lights to those fields was also mentioned.
“Both the stadium turf and the track are in desperate need of replacement for the safety of our students,” Hyland said. “It probably should have been done a while ago. We also believe the addition of lighted softball and baseball fields would permit our teams, and our community, to have first-class facilities like many of the other schools and communities we compete against. We believe our students deserve the right to have the best.”