Loudoun's newest schools turn artificial
10/30/2009
 The primary athletic fields at Loudoun's two newest high schools will be completely fake.                    
  Set to open in fall 2010, Woodgrove High School in Purcellville and Tuscarora High School in Leesburg will feature artificial turf athletic fields for their football, soccer and lacrosse teams.

Currently, none of the county's 10 public high schools has artificial turf fields.

"It will be like having the Taj Mahal," said Tuscarora athletic director Derek Farrey. "I'm opening a brand-new facility with the best of the best. It's a win-win for Loudoun."

The county's School Board would seem to agree.

After a June 9 recommendation by the Finance, Construction and Site Acquisition Committee staff to approve artificial turf fields for the two new high schools, the nine-member board voted unanimously June 23 to solicit bids to construct turf fields.

"The staff felt it was a better investment," said Tom Marshall, a School Board member representing the Leesburg district. “They had statistics showing the initial cost of a turf field against the ongoing maintenance costs of a grass field."

Unlike with a natural grass field, there is no need for continual expenditures on maintenance such as watering, mowing and reseeding.

"Once you buy it, there's little expense thereafter," he said.

Kevin Lewis, Director of Construction Services for Loudoun County Public Schools, stated that warranties for artificial turf fields range from 8 to 15 years.

“Turf fields can be used 24/7 without damage,” he stated.

Woodgrove athletic director Rusty Lowery said that the fields would be used often by local youth and adult sports programs when not used by the high schoolers.

He added that the fields, which he called "top of the line" venues, could attract postseason events to Loudoun, particularly if a local team is involved.

"It's exciting for the community," Lowery said. "The closer you stay, the more excitement you bring."

Briar Woods athletic director Jerry Carter held the same post at Liberty High in Bealeton in 2005 when that school installed a turf football field.

"At Liberty, we practiced all sports on the field at one time or another," he stated. "Physical education classes also benefit greatly. [We] also hosted the state marching band competition."

Farrey was Loudoun County High School's assistant athletic director until June. He dealt with an early May deluge of rain that forced hundreds of reschedulings and cancellations throughout the county.

He believes having turf fields locally is a substantial asset.

"This past spring, we really struggled," he said. "We canceled JV games and couldn't make them up because we ran out of time. That's a shame for those kids."

He said that several varsity contests had to be played on the turf surface at George Mason High School in Falls Church.

Farrey noted that the Tuscarora field would be used for his school's games and practices, as well as for other schools' games if their fields are unplayable.

Winchester's Handley High School is replacing its existing grass field with artificial turf.

"We've visited many schools that have these fields, and we feel we've made a good choice,” Handley principal Doug Joyner said.

Kevin McKew, Executive Director of Operations for Winchester Public Schools, estimates the Handley facility to have an initial price tag of $1.6 million.

Marshall said the cost is significantly lower to construct a turf field on undeveloped land than to replace an existing grass field with turf.

Other nearby high schools which have installed artificial turf in recent years are James Madison, Fairfax and West Springfield. 
Sports                                             
By Jason S. Rufner
Source: Loudoun Times-Mirror      
TUESDAY, JULY 14 2009