Field of Pride : A Community Project

Behind the Idea

  • Current field condition is not acceptable.
  • Cost to renovate the field properly is approximately $30,000. Cost to mow, fertilize, and line the field is $10,000, bringing the minimum cost to Valley View Schools in 2007 to $40,000.
  • If weather conditions are unseasonable (as they were last year), the cost will be more, perhaps substantially more.
  • Renovated surface will allow a maximum of 30 contests in 2007. This means some contests will need to be moved to alternative sites.
  • Depending on wear, prudent planning for grass surfaces includes a similar renovation of the entire surface every 3-4 years for fields with high-volume traffic.
  • Expansion of fall sports is a consideration for the future. The number of games the school potentially could host is going up, not down.
  • The junior high football team currently practices to the west of Barker on the grass lot that doubles for Friday night parking. This surface is in very poor shape, and requires extensive work after each home contest to repair ruts and fill holes.
  • There are no future plans to completely discontinue use of Barker Field, even if new schools and facilities are approved by the community. Maintenance of the playing surface, therefore, will continue to be required.
  • Even when weather conditions are generally favorable, there is always damage to a grass field if play occurs during or immediately following a downpour. Given the number of contests, there will likely be times every year when a decision needs to be made whether to postpone or cancel a contest on a grass field.
  • Our stadium, refreshment, and restroom facilities are the envy of the league. Issues with the field, however, mean these significant investments will continue to be under-utilized if nothing is done. Restricting the number of contests means lost revenue.

The Boosters have elected to help drive a community effort to bring synthetic turf to Barker Field in time for the 2007 season. The benefits are numerous, and include the following:

  • Increased safety, both for our athletes and our guests from visiting communities. Current conditions at Barker are an obvious safety issue. Studies have shown that the new synthetic surfaces are at least as safe as the best-maintained grass surfaces. They are even proving to be safer for such critical things as ACL knee injuries. A synthetic surface also presents the opportunity for practice sessions to be held there, increasing the safety of those sessions.
  • Increased participation. Schools moving to synthetic turf are reporting up to 15% greater participation in those groups that use the field. Our football, soccer, and band participants learn incredible lessons from their experiences, including learning how to prepare to deliver their very best at precisely the right time. That is the essence of performance. The positive effects of creating an environment where more students engage in this type of life-enriching, educational activity should not be underestimated.
  • Consistent playability. No matter the weather, maintenance of the field is simple: it is "groomed" once per week by a special piece of equipment (included in turf price), and can be done in half the time it takes to mow. Contests will not have to be moved to another time or to an alternative site.
  • Less cost and risk for the district. As outlined above, maintaining a grass surface is expensive and involves risk. The community campaign for this project is designed so that the district's participation is, at worst, cost-neutral. The current district commitment is $100,000, which, over the 10 years that the field is guaranteed, covers basic maintenance of a grass field. Synthetic turf eliminates the renovation cost every 3-4 years, eliminates unanticipated expenses like we had last year with emergency patching/filling, and costs associated with moving games.
  • Increased revenue. A consistently-playable surface means the ability to host not only the 50-60 events normally scheduled, but also opens the potential to host soccer tournaments, football playoff games, band contests, and other events.

Welcome

The Valley View Spartan Booster Club would like to invite you to take ownership in the Field of Pride project.

As the project progresses, specific details on how citizens, businesses, and community organizations in Germantown, Farmersville, and the surrounding area can support this effort will available here.

Please check here often for the latest, up-to-date information regarding the Valley View Athletic Boosters Field of Pride Project.

Links

Turf Facts

Just 750 square feet of synthetic turf can conserve approximately 22,000 gallons of water per year.

Synthetic turf requires no fertilizer, no pesticides, no mowing and reduces urban runoff caused by irrigation.

Reduces maintenance costs, both weekly and yearly

Provides a safe and uniform playing surface

Reduces impact injuries by providing consistent G-Max Rating

Provides consistent year-round all-weather playing surface

Multipurpose field / sport usage

Host unlimited field events. School Districts report a 200 – 1600 event per year increase.