Artificial turf to replace natural grass on football field

Manchester High School football field is in the process of having grass removed and artificial turf installed.

Manchester community Schools’ Board of Education voted in January to take out a $3.1 million government loan at 1.25% with 15-year financing to upgrade the district’s energy efficiency. One of the upgrades is to convert the football field to artificial turf. This process began a couple of weeks ago with the stripping of sod.

Because of the current transitions in administrative positions occurring right now, High School principal Eric McCalla is currently overseeing the project, which has a projected completion date of August 1st. 

McCalla explained that in addition to energy efficiency, one of the benefits of artificial turf will be in maintenance. “There will be no mowing of the field, or watering, or fertilizer,” he stated. He explained that the field can also be used by baseball and softball early in the spring for practice and that this may allow the teams to get outside earlier.

Another change occurring with the field is that beginning in the fall, both football and soccer will be played on the the field. The field will be marked for both soccer and football with different color lines for the two sports. McCalla stated one of the benefits of this will be having all sports at one location with the same concession stand, restrooms and press-box.

Unfortunately, the timing of the sod removal meant that Klager Elementary’s annual field day, always held on the field, had to be canceled this year. This led Street Festival organizer Jennifer Wojtowicz to plan field day activities at the August event, in order to provide a fun, informal alternative to make up for the missed event.

Piles of sod removed from the football field located behind the Community Garden.

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.