Synthetic Turf Field Proposition
Extensive use of the district’s athletics fields by hundreds of children involved in recreational soccer, football, and baseball, as well as student athletes, has damaged our fields and resulted in unsafe playing conditions. Restoring and then properly maintaining fields through a natural turf approach would require us to reduce the use of our fields by local recreation programs and to schedule periodic recovery intervals for each field. Synthetic turf surfaces would provide versatile fields and safe playing conditions for both community recreation and school use. A synthetic surface allows more frequent use of each field than would be possible with natural turf and would extend fall and spring playing seasons since they are less impacted by weather than natural turf fields.
A $3,644,000 proposition on the May budget ballot seeks authorization to install a synthetic turf surface for the lower field at Washington Irving School and for the main playing field at Sleepy Hollow High School. Additional expenses included in the project budget beyond the field surface itself are limited to necessary equipment, such as goal posts and maintenance equipment. Lighting for the main field at Sleepy Hollow will be an option if sufficient funds are remaining after the turf installation expenses are covered. It would extend the opportunities to use the field, particularly during the late fall and early spring seasons.
This recommendation was preceded by a review of athletics facilities available in both villages as well as on school grounds. Click here to view the athletics facilities report that was presented to the Board of Education in January.
