FEATURE ARTICLE
Athletic fields and facilities …
Not just extracurricular, but extra value for schools by Kevin Havens, Byron Wyns and Craig Polte
Kevin Havens is senior vice presi-
chool districts across Illinois
tinue offering students a variety of
more options for extracurricular activ-
are constantly challenged to
extracurricular activities without
ities in sports, the arts, and special
S
do more with less and tighten their
depleting their shrinking budgets,
interest clubs and groups, space lim-
dent and director
fiscal belts. Yet, at many high schools,
school boards and administrators might
itations and scheduling are knotty
of design, Craig
the largest part of their campus (besides
want to consider various creative strate-
issues. At a number of schools, it’s
Polte is construc-
the main building) typically receives
gies to get more value from all their
not uncommon to see track athletes
tion project
scant attention, even though it’s often
athletic fields and related facilities.
running in the corridors after regu-
manager and
both costly and wasteful.
Replacing sod fields with synthetic
lar hours. Rain or inclement weather can exacerbate the problem.
We’re talking about competition
turf is one obvious option, which often
director of land
athletic fields made of natural grass,
involves upgrading running tracks,
The solution: multi-functional
development
which lack durability, have high main-
bleachers, lighting and/or scoreboards.
spaces. As noted, one of the best ways
for Wight &
tenance costs and require large vol-
Renovating field houses is another
to “gain” flexible space is by con-
umes of water for irrigation. Depending
possibility that can provide oppor-
verting grass fields to synthetic turf.
on the region, a typical grass sports
tunities to build fitness centers for stu-
This provides a consistent year-round,
field can use between 500,000 to one
dents and the community.
all-weather playing surface built to
Byron Wyns is
Company, Darien, Illinois.
million gallons of water or more each
These projects usually are on
year. Although space for outdoor activ-
extremely tight schedules because
ities is limited at many high schools,
they can be done only during sum-
The latest generation of synthetic
this expansive piece of real estate
mer break. The keys to success for
turf replicates lush natural grass in
often lies unused for all but 400 hours
such projects are 1) planning to avoid
appearance, function and safety for
or so each year.
problems likely to occur, 2) adapting
athletes. Its biggest advantages over
Such shortcomings are the main
quickly to the unexpected and 3)
grass are durability and versatility.
reason why many schools are replac-
anticipating future needs for students,
A heavy rain can render a grass foot-
ing their sod with synthetic turf. This
as well as the infrastructure. Here are
ball field useless for days, and nat-
conversion turns a part-time gridiron
some of the insights gained and lessons
ural grass cannot withstand getting
into a multi-purpose venue for oth-
learned from our experiences on pro-
trampled down and compacted by
er sports, PE classes, marching band
jects for high schools throughout the
hundreds of feet in tight formation.
practices and community events.
Chicago area.
(Now you know why marching bands
As districts look for ways to con22
time for recovery.
usually practice on paved surfaces!)
Some synthetic fields get more than 3,000 hours of use each year.
withstand extended use without down-
Why synthetic turf With high schools giving students
In contrast, high schools can put synthetic turf fields to good use from
THE ILLINOIS SCHOOL BOARD JOURNAL / SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2012