The future of grass fields

[eagles73Taylor]

Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying you’re wrong, just going by what I have heard also. Would love for it to happen this year as well.

[toast]

Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying you’re wrong, just going by what I have heard also. Would love for it to happen this year as well.

Let me know if it happens before next season. I want to come down and check it out and get a few pictures. Exciting for sure

[bfry]

Process has begun at Northwest. Old concession torn down.

[ravensfan09]

Will Gallia ever make the transition to turf? Fairland?

[State7]

Any schools getting turf in the coming years? Or in the talks. Piketon? Unioto? West? Be neat to see those teams look into it!

[mlittle]

Toast, I will be pleasantly surprised if that happens that soon at Piketon. That’s only 7 months away, now in the near future I think it will be done, plus other athletic and the arts upgrades! You can’t go wrong with permanent improvements to a school.

I kinda thought they were hoping to have turf by next season. But you would have a better idea on that than I would. It will be a nice upgrade that most are looking forward to.

Love to see Piketon get turf by next season

[NW Phoenix]

https://www.portsmouth-dailytimes.com/n ... ic-complex

[Sykotyk]

Ferndale Yellow Jackets (PA) hosting Purchase Line Red Dragons (PA) at Ferndale Stadium in Ferndale. (Week 10 this past year).

You don't see games like this that much anymore.

More pics available from that week here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/sykotyk/a ... 2969478605

Photos from that game start on Page 2: https://www.flickr.com/photos/sykotyk/a ... 8605/page2

[Sykotyk]

[4thgoal]

From my understanding, if schools set aside the same amount of money they spend for maintaining the field (labor, fuel, gas, mower maintenance, fertilizer, seed, water, paint, etc) they can easily afford the replacement of turf after its 10 year life. The major issue is the initial investment, but if you can get to that point, the turf basically pays for itself. I have heard the turf at Burg has already paid for itself after 7 seasons.

[ravensfan09]

From my understanding, if schools set aside the same amount of money they spend for maintaining the field (labor, fuel, gas, mower maintenance, fertilizer, seed, water, paint, etc) they can easily afford the replacement of turf after its 10 year life. The major issue is the initial investment, but if you can get to that point, the turf basically pays for itself. I have heard the turf at Burg has already paid for itself after 7 seasons.

Thats interesting. I just saw where Massillon Washington is replacing their turf and it is costing over $400,000.

That would mean to have a turf field and it pay for itself in 7 year, schools would be spending an averages or over $57,000 per year on their grass fields. That would be an amazing study.

[Dundas]

From my understanding, if schools set aside the same amount of money they spend for maintaining the field (labor, fuel, gas, mower maintenance, fertilizer, seed, water, paint, etc) they can easily afford the replacement of turf after its 10 year life. The major issue is the initial investment, but if you can get to that point, the turf basically pays for itself. I have heard the turf at Burg has already paid for itself after 7 seasons.

Thats interesting. I just saw where Massillon Washington is replacing their turf and it is costing over $400,000.

That would mean to have a turf field and it pay for itself in 7 year, schools would be spending an averages or over $57,000 per year on their grass fields. That would be an amazing study.

I’m not sure what the upkeep is at VC for our field but I would be pretty comfortable saying that it’s is nowhere near 57k a year. Lol maybe 3-4K? Maybe...

[ravensfan09]

From my understanding, if schools set aside the same amount of money they spend for maintaining the field (labor, fuel, gas, mower maintenance, fertilizer, seed, water, paint, etc) they can easily afford the replacement of turf after its 10 year life. The major issue is the initial investment, but if you can get to that point, the turf basically pays for itself. I have heard the turf at Burg has already paid for itself after 7 seasons.

Thats interesting. I just saw where Massillon Washington is replacing their turf and it is costing over $400,000.

That would mean to have a turf field and it pay for itself in 7 year, schools would be spending an averages or over $57,000 per year on their grass fields. That would be an amazing study.

I’m not sure what the upkeep is at VC for our field but I would be pretty comfortable saying that it’s is nowhere near 57k a year. Lol maybe 3-4K? Maybe...

Thats what I would say....at most 10-15,000. Most schools couldn't afford $57,000 a year for field maintenance.

[Sykotyk]

From my understanding, if schools set aside the same amount of money they spend for maintaining the field (labor, fuel, gas, mower maintenance, fertilizer, seed, water, paint, etc) they can easily afford the replacement of turf after its 10 year life. The major issue is the initial investment, but if you can get to that point, the turf basically pays for itself. I have heard the turf at Burg has already paid for itself after 7 seasons.

Thats interesting. I just saw where Massillon Washington is replacing their turf and it is costing over $400,000.

That would mean to have a turf field and it pay for itself in 7 year, schools would be spending an averages or over $57,000 per year on their grass fields. That would be an amazing study.

I wouldn't judge expenses on what Massillon does. They're not going to nickel and dime themselves or their booster club. If they want new turf, they're buying new turf. Whether it's due or not. They're also not going cheap.

A big part of the expense is what type of pattern or design you want. Everything is cut and sewn together. It's not painted. The more endzone or midfield designs you have, the more it costs. Massillon also had the old concrete turf for the longest time, I'm sure it's not as simple as the new turf field that convert from grass to the sand base for the turf.

Also, there is different types of turf with different ages, uses, etc. My HS basically existed where a swamp once was and the grass was always turning to mud. Turf switch over cost $600k. Replacement after ten years is listed at $300k.

As mentioned elsewhere, you also have to account for the fact you can use your primary stadium for so much more with turf. And you don't need to maintain other grass fields for games and practices as much or at all.

Also, the $40k/year maintenance for a grass field is if you a) count the mower as just exclusive for the field, while most schools mow their field with the same mower that handles the rest of the school grounds, b) actually keep it in great shape (most schools are woefully inadequate) and c) paint it well, which again most high schools don't.





Big difference.

[ravensfan09]

From my understanding, if schools set aside the same amount of money they spend for maintaining the field (labor, fuel, gas, mower maintenance, fertilizer, seed, water, paint, etc) they can easily afford the replacement of turf after its 10 year life. The major issue is the initial investment, but if you can get to that point, the turf basically pays for itself. I have heard the turf at Burg has already paid for itself after 7 seasons.

Thats interesting. I just saw where Massillon Washington is replacing their turf and it is costing over $400,000.

That would mean to have a turf field and it pay for itself in 7 year, schools would be spending an averages or over $57,000 per year on their grass fields. That would be an amazing study.

I wouldn't judge expenses on what Massillon does. They're not going to nickel and dime themselves or their booster club. If they want new turf, they're buying new turf. Whether it's due or not. They're also not going cheap.

A big part of the expense is what type of pattern or design you want. Everything is cut and sewn together. It's not painted. The more endzone or midfield designs you have, the more it costs. Massillon also had the old concrete turf for the longest time, I'm sure it's not as simple as the new turf field that convert from grass to the sand base for the turf.

Also, there is different types of turf with different ages, uses, etc. My HS basically existed where a swamp once was and the grass was always turning to mud. Turf switch over cost $600k. Replacement after ten years is listed at $300k.

As mentioned elsewhere, you also have to account for the fact you can use your primary stadium for so much more with turf. And you don't need to maintain other grass fields for games and practices as much or at all.

Also, the $40k/year maintenance for a grass field is if you a) count the mower as just exclusive for the field, while most schools mow their field with the same mower that handles the rest of the school grounds, b) actually keep it in great shape (most schools are woefully inadequate) and c) paint it well, which again most high schools don't.





Big difference.

I get it that you can't judge off of Massillon, but still the numbers just dont add up. I wonder how mant MAC schools have turf? Coldwater? Marion Local? Fort Recovery? Saint Henry?

[one Oak]

It looks like Ferndale doesn't have lights either.

[Sykotyk]

It looks like Ferndale doesn't have lights either.

Nope. Johnstown is an interesting city.

Inside most of the city, is "Greater Johnstown". The school is on the southside of the city. Ferndale is just east/southeast of the high school. Stadium is also right on the river. To the west GJ, up on top of the hill is Westmont Hilltop (they're not that creative in names). To the east/southeast of town, is Richland, but it's a bit ways out, and is a rather well off area. To the north is Connemaugh Valley, a poor, rural area skirting the north of the city. WH, Ferndale, CV, and GJ all have Johnstown addresses, though technically the three surrounding schools are outside the city limits. But their districts meander everywhere.

Westy (as they're called), Ferndale, and CV are all very small schools with unlit grass fields. Ferndale is a baseball/football hybride (football field is aligned down the left field line, with the endzone cutting into about the pitchers mound). Richland has turf and really nice. GJ has turf and a huge stadium.

The area really only needs 2, maybe 3 schools. But, that's not how PA rolls.

[ravensfan09]

Northwest will be getting turf this off season. I think the turf company is going to wait until spring to start on the field.
The athletic facility will be started in the next few weeks.
This building will house weight room, locker rooms for football ,soccer and cross country. There will also be 30 yards of indoor turf along with batting cages in this building.

Its so wet...it would be great if they did wait. Spending that much money...you want everything to be perfect. It might take a little longer, but time should not be a factor here.

[king kong]

Toast, I will be pleasantly surprised if that happens that soon at Piketon. That’s only 7 months away, now in the near future I think it will be done, plus other athletic and the arts upgrades! You can’t go wrong with permanent improvements to a school.

I kinda thought they were hoping to have turf by next season. But you would have a better idea on that than I would. It will be a nice upgrade that most are looking forward to.

It appears this will be the case, looking at installed a ready for home opener this season. Exciting times here in Piketon.

[ravensfan09]

Toast, I will be pleasantly surprised if that happens that soon at Piketon. That’s only 7 months away, now in the near future I think it will be done, plus other athletic and the arts upgrades! You can’t go wrong with permanent improvements to a school.

I kinda thought they were hoping to have turf by next season. But you would have a better idea on that than I would. It will be a nice upgrade that most are looking forward to.

It appears this will be the case, looking at installed a ready for home opener this season. Exciting times here in Piketon.

Great news for Piketon High School!! I heard it would be ready by the first home game, providing this rain stops.