School Directors Choose Sod Over Artificial Turf

PHILADELPHIA - Student athletes here will be playing on natural grass in the track infield this fall, despite an all out effort by several school board members, coaches and parents to see them on artificial turf.

After weeks of often heated debate where supporters of the artificial surface touted its safety, maintenance record and the money the district could make from renting the field space, school directors recently voted against spending the more than $500,000 the surface would have cost.

Facing a tight budget that's likely to include at least a 16-mill tax hike when it's finalized next month, the board split 5-4 on the artificial turf proposal.

Chris Flynn, Mary Teagan, Mark Foster, Diane Eler and William Clark voted against installing the artificial surface for soccer, lacrosse and field hockey teams, supporting a sod field instead with a price tag of about $45,000.

"Our number one business is education," said Eler, adding, "Can we meet the needs of our students with sod? I believe we can."

Foster expressed concern that financing the half-million dollar project from the district's fund balance might jeopardize the district's bond rating, forcing the small but affluent district to pay higher interest rates.

But the arguments didn't persuade parents like Jerry Giuliano who stormed out of the meeting, telling the board it had "failed our children."

To a round of applause, Giuliano said, "I'm shocked at what we have our kids playing on. We put no money into sports here."

Soccer and lacrosse coaches said students were in dire need of a safe place to practice and play and community members, many from local athletic organizations, told the board groups are constantly looking for fields.

"There's a great need for field space," said Jean Brooks during a recent school board meeting. Brooks, who works with youth soccer, said organizations will pay $125 an hour for a place to play.

Much of the rationale for spending such a hefty amount on artificial turf was based on projections the district could recoup money by renting the field.

According to a presentation by resident Henry Brink, field rental would generate $40,000 a year, helping the field pay for itself in five years. Even without rental income, said Brink, the field would pay for itself in nine years, based on maintenance savings.

The school district's business manager, however, said payback could take up to 22 years.

Artificial turf, said proponents, does not need mowing, watering or line painting.

Dave Hansel, director of building operations for New Hope-Solebury, said sodding of the infield should begin in a few weeks and be ready for fall sports.