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Batavia Could Spend $13 Million on Artificial Turf and Field Improvements
A Batavia committee proposes a $13 million plan that could give District 101 an artificial turf field and keep practices on the campus, area media report. Geneva spent $1.1 million by comparison, less a $450,000 donation from an anonymous donor.
Two Batavia players share a hug as they walk off the field during the Aug. 31, 2012 game against Plainfield East. Batavia put up four touchdowns in all.
Ed DeMask
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Neighboring Batavia might be doing more than keep up with the Jones' by recommending an artificial turf field and other athletic improvements—at a cost of $13 million.
Batavia School District 101 could spend as much that much to build an artifical turf field and keep sports and extracurricular practices on the school campus, the Daily Herald reports.
School District 101 had talked about taking land from Mooseheart and using elementary schools for practice fields, but Batavia Buildings and Grounds Director Pat Browne told the Batavia School Board at last week's meeting that a committee of school officials, parents and boosters would prefer to keep practice fields on campus.
The plan calls for eliminating the arboretum on the southwest corner of the Batavia High School campus, the Daily Herald said.
A Chicago Tribune article said no funding has been secured for the project, although the committee did present an architect's rendering of the new fields.
An artificial-turf field would be located on the southeast side of the stadium, and a detention pond would be put underground, the Daily Herald reported.
Geneva School District 304 made an artificial turf investment, which culminated in a finished Burgess Field in time for the 2012-13 fall sports season. However, Geneva received a $450,000 gift from an anonymous donor and paid $1.1 million total for the work that included an upgrade of the school track.
The advantage of artificial turf is cost savings over time, because of reduced maintenance cost. Also, multiple sports teams and bands can practice on the artificial turf without damaging the surface.
Related Articles
- Part 1 in Series: Boosters Seek $500K to 'Rebuild Burgess Field'
- Anonymous Donor Gives $450K for Burgess Field Improvements
- After $450K Anonymous Donation, School District Talk Turns to Turf
- District 304 Accepts 'Secret Santa' Donation for Burgess Field Turf
- Geneva School Board Defers Action on Burgess Field
- New Burgess Field On Track for Fall Football, Soccer
- Burgess Field Work Begins; Follow Progress With Online 'Construction Cam'
- 8 Essays: A Case Against Artificial Turf in Geneva
- Burgess Field Ready to Go for Fall Season
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Kev
9:57 pm on Saturday, March 2, 2013
I don't see this happening - especially since the vendors failed to pick up the tab for the Board's dinner at Mortons
Common Sense
5:06 am on Sunday, March 3, 2013
That's because Raleigh receives a larger percentage of state funding for schools. Illinois' contribution to the state school budget is approximately 33% while the national average is about 50%; funds have been reduced four times in the last five years; Illinois ranks 48th or 49th among 50 states in funding for public schools.
samcar1
12:57 am on Sunday, March 3, 2013
Please keep the older kids off the elementary school grounds. Their behavior (language, smoking, speeding, volume!) tends to conflict with the tenets of good citizenship taught in the lower grades.
R G
6:48 am on Sunday, March 3, 2013
Wow, so the district cannot think of a better way to spend $13 million!!! What a joke. It just shows what the parents and admin think is more important.
btown95
7:03 pm on Sunday, March 3, 2013
This is just a wish list. It didn't say they are doing this next year. My guess would be that everything in the plan will eventually get done over a long period of time. People on here crack me up on how they overreact about everything.