DISCUSSION COMING ON HIGH SCHOOL UPGRADE
Donor proposes artificial turf for football field
Several years ago a local sports booster and community group raised thousands of dollars to upgrade the football stadium at Ithaca High School.
Those improvements, including the installation of a Jumbotron, made the facility a showpiece, not only for football but other school teams and activities.
However, at the time nothing was done to the field itself.
Now the Ithaca Board of Education is faced with an expensive renovation project.
According to a press release the required work includes leveling the field, installing a new irrigation system and drainage tiles, replacing existing storm drains and a new grass surface.
“A tremendous amount of water causing current stadium issues comes from the service drive, the parking lot, the (agricultural) barn by the school and the surrounding berms,” the press release stated. “The biggest problem is the drainage and lack of having adequate tiling on hand around the field for many years, and it has always been hard to spend school money on the field.”
At times the grass surface has become unsafe to play on, causing games to be moved to other fields,
Although the district was considering simply replacing the playing surface with grass once again, which would still require mowing and other maintenance, another alternative has been proposed.
The same local family that helped fund the previous stadium upgrades is offering to pay for the installation of an artificial turf playing surface as well as a new drainage system.
The donation would save district taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars, school officials say.
For now the family making the renovations possible wishes to remain anonymous.
In addition to the initial contribution the family would make another donation to the district to establish an interest-bearing account that would help replace the turf in 12 to 15 years.
The only other artificial turf field in Gratiot County is at Alma College, where many of Ithaca’s football games have had to be moved in the past due to the wet, muddy and unsafe conditions of its home field.
The proposed project not only features upgrades to the playing surface but also will include a scholarship program for graduating seniors from all six high schools in the county, and another that will honor local service members and veterans.
Other Gratiot County schools would also have the opportunity to use the field when available.
A committee has been established to assist the donor family with making the proposed project possible.
Members will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday in the high school media center to present more details to the school board.
The public is invited to attend.