Overwhelming Support For New Artificial Turf Fields At High Schools Is Growing

Courtesy of The Express-Times
Writen by George Wacker
November 8, 2005

Plans for a proposed artificial turf field at Easton Area High School advanced during Monday's buildings and grounds committee meeting.

Committee and school board member Ray Cortez suggested the district use its fund balance to finance the field then repay the amount through the district's new education foundation.

"The taxpayers would not be paying for this field," he said. "It's important people understand that."

The committee voted Monday to recommend Cortez's suggestion. Easton Area School Board members will discuss the matter Monday.

The proposed artificial field would be installed on the practice football field inside the track and would provide a venue for field hockey, lacrosse and soccer games, physical education classes, and other practices, said athletic director Jim Pokrivsak.

Last month, Pokrivsak suggested installing turf on the practice football field which sits inside the track. The field is already lighted so more teams could practice longer on artificial turf because it would sustain less wear and tear.

Pokrivsak said an artificial field makes sense for the field hockey team because eight of the 12 teams in Easton's league already play on turf. The soccer teams could also play on the field and lacrosse teams tend to play on artificial turf, he said.

On Monday, Pokrivsak presented the committee with a cost analysis for an artificial field versus a natural field.

According to figures provided by Sportexe, an artificial turf company, the district would save about $40,000 over a 10-year span if it installed an artificial field.

Pokrivsak also presented the board with another cost analysis from the town of Lexington, Mass., which installed an artificial field.

Installing the field saved the town about $165,000 over a 10- year span, according to Pokrivsak.

Pokrivsak said natural field maintenance costs are about $20,000, $18,000 more per year than for an artificial field.

An artificial field costs about $500,000 to install, however, compared to about $150,000 for a natural field, he said.

On Monday, Cortez lashed out at those who think the board only spends money on athletic projects.

"I dare anyone to say we have neglected educational projects," he said. "This field would benefit the district and community and would save money."

Board member Patricia Fisher said residents who have written letters to local newspapers admonishing the proposed field should take a closer look at the situation.

"They don't know," she said. "Perhaps it should be our job to let them know how important this would be to the district and its students."

Also Monday, the committee voted to recommend to the school board that exhaust fans be placed in the high school's auxiliary gym.

D'Huy Engineering representative Henry Guarriello said the project could cost about $35,000.

The matter will be discussed at Monday's school board meeting.