New Turf Approved for Springfield High School Stadiums

(Springfield, MO) -- When the high school football season kicks off in late August, all five high schools in Springfield will have artificial turf. 

Springfield Public Schools approved a $1,898,600 contract Thursday with Mid America Golf, a firm out of Memphis, to provide the turf.  

Glendale High School, along with Hillcrest and Kickapoo, will replace their grass fields with the artificial turf.

SPS says artificial turf is more durable and will allow greater use of the fields for band, physical education classes, high school and middle school sports and student and community activities.

JFK Stadium will get a new rug for the Vikings. At its May 1 meeting, the school board authorized spending $398,685 from the district's major repair funds for the turf replacement.

Central High School's Harrison Stadium had turf installed in 2005.

The tracks at all three fields will be upgraded as well. The board also approved spending $314,239 to replace and renovate stadium scoreboards and play clocks at all five high schools.

Springfield Athletics Director Mark Fisher privately raised $3.5 million for the project.

"Athletics and extracurricular activities are essential to engaging students in school and to helping create school pride and a sense of community," said Superintendent Norm Ridder in a statement Thursday. "We appreciate these private donors investing in our students and our facilities.

The district says a news conference is being planned for later this summer to recognize the businesses who have contributed to the effort.

A year ago, SPS embarked on its "Healthy Place to Play" initiative to raise private funding to install artificial turf and replace the tracks at high school stadiums.