RedRider1;1165249 wrote:Jmar,
More like 10-15 years until the turf will need replaced. The replacement cost isn't as much as the initial cost because only the carpet is being replaced, not the gravel base.
I think any project to do turf at a small school would need to be fully supported by private donations.
In Orrville's example, we have 1 good field in our new campus of 3 schools...the high school field...and that can't host any more than 5-10 football games a year before it wears out & becomes mud.
Now imagine turf. You could host JV, frosh, varsity & middle school games...also JV & varsity soccer..also band practice & band shows...also workouts for spring sports while ball fields are wet...also Boys Club events (tackle & flag football etc .)
There will be some cost savings (no watering, fertilizing, striping, mowing) and over a 15 year life cycle, that does amount to some considerable cost savings. Enough to replace the field...not sure.
Turf increases the usability of a facility from 10-15 uses a year to literally daily if you wanted to.
I wouldn't call it a necessity, but certainly not a luxury either.
I didn't realize the time frame was that short on reconditioning.
I can see the benefits having this type of facility but I just don't see the point for it other than luxury for Norwayne. Orrville might be the exception though. You guys have a lot going on there and could "rent" some costs off to the boys club and other local organizations that could use the field. That and you're trapped inside of a "city". Space may be an issue there in the "city" of Orrville.
It is a luxury for county schools. There is no excusable explanation to justify this project. They have additional space for the types of additional events you list. I know many schools that have the band practice on the football practice field. I would assume that Orrville does the same except on game day practice where they use the actual fields. We've hosted multiple games for years on our game fields and some years have been better or worse than others but I can't recall anything catastrophic happening to justify this as a need.
Maybe our definitions of luxury are different. I just can't see this as anything but. Maybe we prioritize things differently. (This is at the bottom of a need/want list) If this how they choose to use money donated to the district, then more power to them. I just hope they don't lose any staff in the next few years or want a levy anytime in the future. This will be a major battle cry if those things happen despite the money only being donated for that specific purpose.
