GENEVA – Geneva High School's Burgess Field will be replaced with artificial grass and ready for the 2012-13 school year in August, officials said.
"I'm very pleased that the project is going to move forward, and it's something that will be a positive, not only for all athletes, but for the marching band and physical education students," Athletic Director Jim Kafer said. "We are looking forward to it, no question about it."
The school board voted this week to approve a $1.1 million bid from Nicholas & Associates in Mt. Prospect for the high school athletic field renovation project.
Funding was provided by donations from Friends of Burgess field, about $45,000 and an anonymous donation of $500,000 to be used to buy and install FieldTurf brand artificial grass.
Improvements to the athletic field include repair of the drainage system, rebuilding the football field, installation of artificial turf grass, widening the track, and fencing. Construction is expected to begin in May.
The athletic field was last renovated in 1994.
In April last year, an anonymous donor offered $450,000 to install an artificial field in time for the current school year. But the gift was delayed because the donors were having a hard time getting the money together, school officials said.
In November, a second anonymous donor stepped up to offer the district $500,000, which has now resulted in the bid award. The rest of the funding comes from the district's budget.
District officials prefer artificial turf because it costs less to maintain, an estimated $7,500 a year instead of $70,000, because it does not have to be mowed, fertilized or re-striped.
The artificial turf's maintenance amounts to raking and cleaning.
In its current state, no teams can use the field except varsity football. Other athletic teams and students who will benefit include baseball, softball, boys and girls soccer, lacrosse, gym classes, track, Friday night football – and Saturday morning football for freshmen and Monday afternoon football for junior varsity teams.
