A New Football Field Turf?

[Mike B.]

The other day, I over heard a couple of men talking about a synthetic turf to be put on Memorial Stadium. Does anyone know about this? I think it is a turf about like Astro-Turf. It must be very expensive! I've always heard that this type of surface can play havoc on young peoples bodies. Knees and ankles especially. I have a couple of questions if anyone knows about this topic!

1. Are High Schools and/or even major colleges, across the U.S., moving away from this type of turf? If so, Why?

2. Would USD 443 be better off using the money to pay off existing debts?

3. Who are the individuals behind this movement? And what is their motivation?

4. Will tax dollars be used? And will USD 443 up the Mill Levy to pay for this?

I'm not saying I'm for or against, just was needing some answers!

Mike B.

[Happening]

I would assume it is not astro turf. That was the turf of the 80's. The new turf that every school around Wichita are putting in is quite nice and not harmful to the joints. It is the same turf that the NFL and many colleges use. The same as Garden, Hutch, Maize, and Goddard has in. With all the games that are played at Memorial stadium, I'm surprised they haven't done this sooner. With Sacred Heart, DCCC, the middle school and the high school all chipping in, it wouldn't be too expensive. Many of the fields are 500,000 to 750,000 dollars. The fields are usually good for 15 years or so. By the time you pay to water, cut grass, paint the field every week, put on the numbers and all the other upkeep, the fields actually end up saving the schools money. That is my experience. Plus with the turf, the band can practice on it and not hurt the grass from all the tromping and the track team can practice on it saving their shins. So it is used all the time by many different groups.

[Dodgegal]

Originally Posted by Happening

With Sacred Heart, DCCC, the middle school and the high school all chipping in, it wouldn't be too expensive.

So, are these others helping to pay? Will that mean they do not have to pay to rent the field for each game? Currently DCCC has to pay to play there, atleast that is what I have been told.

[Bubba]

Sacred Heart has to pay rent as well and they can't even have lights included in that rental fee. If they want the lights if a game goes a little long they have to pay some ungodly high fee to turn on the lights, so they never use the lights for Sacred Heart games.

[Demon '84]

Originally Posted by Mike B.

The other day, I over heard a couple of men talking about a synthetic turf to be put on Memorial Stadium. Does anyone know about this? I think it is a turf about like Astro-Turf. It must be very expensive! I've always heard that this type of surface can play havoc on young peoples bodies. Knees and ankles especially. I have a couple of questions if anyone knows about this topic!

1. Are High Schools and/or even major colleges, across the U.S., moving away from this type of turf? If so, Why?

2. Would USD 443 be better off using the money to pay off existing debts?

3. Who are the individuals behind this movement? And what is their motivation?

4. Will tax dollars be used? And will USD 443 up the Mill Levy to pay for this?

I'm not saying I'm for or against, just was needing some answers!

Mike B.

1. Here's a site that can provide the answers: www.google.com

2. I'm sure you think so or you wouldn't have asked.

3. I don't know, but I'm sure they're crooked and have a way to make money on the deal.

4. Of course, but then, we're spending tax dollars on the field now.

[littlemom]

Middle School, High School (SAME MONEY) Tax dollar. It is sad we file a lawsuit to get more fair funding in order to educate our children and our lovely school board would like to spend the money on a football field or a activity bus and not on real education. How many pro athletes came out of Dodge City Public Schools? How many kids can we actually see go to college with that money.....Priorities need put in place....

[dodgehighforeve]

Originally Posted by littlemom

Middle School, High School (SAME MONEY) How many pro athletes came out of Dodge City Public Schools?

I know of at least one, maybe two, not sure if he went to school in Dodge or not, but I think he did.

One thing to think about with the cost, is how much does it cost to maintain the current field? Overseeding every year. Millions of gallons of water. People to mow it all year, repaint the lines every week. After this one time cost, the annual maintenance on the current field could be put toward books or anything else.

And on another note, think of how may kids wouldn't be going to college, if it weren't for football scholarships.

[Bubba]

I thought it had already been proven that artificial turf was harder on the body and caused more knee and ankle joint injuries than natural turf???

[Tee]

Robert Delpino

[Made in the USA]

Originally Posted by Bubba

I thought it had already been proven that artificial turf was harder on the body and caused more knee and ankle joint injuries than natural turf???

I think it is some newer form of turf that is less injury prone than the old carpet kind on hard surface. Probably not cheap, but DCHigh makes a good point with maintenance and upkeep.