South Albany considers new football field turf

South Albany High School is proposing replacing its grass football field with artificial turf, a project to be outlined at Mondays meeting of the Albany school board.

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at the district office, 718 Seventh Ave. S.W. Also on Mondays agenda are a discussion about making up snow days and recommendations for improving school safety.

Board members will review a proposal from South Albany High Schools administration and booster club to put in a turf field at a cost of roughly $750,000.

Under the proposal, the district would pay or borrow about $500,000 of the project over eight years to cover the turf and the subsurface materials.

The rest of the cost, for drainage, dirt removal, subsurface hauling and leveling, would come from in-kind donations.

The school suggests creating community partnerships with the city of Albany, the Boys & Girls Club, Pop Warner Football, the high school booster club and others who might benefit from the field to help cover the bulk of the debt.

Turf fields also save on watering, seeding and other maintenance costs, although the actual savings may be less than the $30,000 per year the proposal estimates.The Lebanon Community School District has saved approximately $7,000 per year since installing its artificial turf field in 2011.

Construction excise taxes, which school districts are allowed to impose on new construction, also could be put toward the project. The district has about $1.8 million available in CET funds.

According to the proposal, the real benefit in having a turf field is the community access it would provide.

Right now, Souths field is used between 20 and 25 times per year, primarily for home football games. The proposal estimates a turf field would boost usage to more than 200 events per year between South Albany classes and teams and youth baseball, soccer and football programs and other community events.

Originally posted here:
South Albany considers new football field turf