This
link provides some interesting information compiled and presented by a community (Arlington, VA) that faced many of the same issues as Mt. Lebanon when deciding whether or not to turf their fields. They now have 12! I don't think we need 12, but this report more or less confirms what many of us having been saying about adding just 1.
Also, this is a great collection of articles concerning the many communities right here in Western PA that have recently made the move to turf:
Upper St. Clair - Recent Turf and Lighting
Project Completed at Boyce Middle School
Peters Township -
1. Pleasant Valley Elementary Turf and Lighting
Project - ...The project includes a turfed soccer/lacrosse/football
field, restroom facilities, additional parking, a basic sound system, basic
concession stands, lighting, bleachers and improved access to the field and
Pleasant Valley parking lots...Golembiewski said the athletic field project is
not so much a priority as it is a necessity and a fair decision. “Every board
member here should be commended to have the courage to make a tough decision,
because this is a tough decision,” she said. “This will be the need of many of
our kids. It is the worst time to spend money, but it is the best time to spend
money if you look at the interest rates.”
2. Peterswood Park Turf and Lighting Project - Peters
council has voted to spend $895,430 to install artificial turf on a soccer
field at Peterswood Park
Bethel Park - Fundraising to Turf Over
Park Avenue Community Field - "The goal is to raise money to install, with
the municipality, synthetic turf at the Park Avenue field..."
Fox Chapel - Recently Completed All Turf
Baseball Field...The baseball diamond is just one part of a three-pronged
renovation project to on-campus athletic facilities. O’Brien calls it “phase
1.” “Phase 2” is an all-turf, 90-yard practice field for football,
lacrosse, soccer and other sports. “Phase 3” is an updated softball field,
which also will have a turf infield. Ground has yet to be broken for the second
and third projects. “Someone will always have a turf field to play on or
practice on now,” O’Brien said.
North Park - Allegheny County paid
$836,000 from its capital budget for the improvements at Lt. J.C. Stone Field
in North Park...The North Park football field is a popular location, she said.
As a result of heavy use in previous years by high school, middle school and
other teams, the natural grass field was "turning into a mud pit,"
she said. The new surface will hold up better, allow for more games and reduce
maintenance costs, she said.
South Park - 2005 - Non-profit entity
built soccer field turf facility on land leased from Jefferson Memorial Park.
This complex is the first turf facility in the South Hills not affiliated
with a school district.
Recent High School Stadium Turf Projects:
North Allegheny - 2008 - The North
Allegheny school board approved an $860,000 bid Wednesday from Sports
Construction Group of Cleveland to replace the artificial turf and fix the
surrounding track at Newman Stadium.
Gateway - 2012 - Turf replacement
set to begin at Antimarino Stadium
Penn Hills - 2012 - Penn Hills will use a
$200,000 grant from the Steelers...to install synthetic turf, new bleachers and
a scoreboard.
