Texas Private School Breaks Ground on $3.5M Track & Turf Project

Fort Worth Country Day, a college preparatory school in Fort Worth, Texas, recently announced that ground has been broken on a $3.5-million athletics improvement project. Updates include renovations to its existing track and two athletic fields with higher-caliber surfaces and technologies, and the school will be the first venue in the Dallas-Fort Worth area to utilize them, according to a news release. The project is scheduled for completion in fall 2022.

One of the school’s field hockey fields will become a “wet” hockey field, which the press release notes is the “gold standard in competitive field hockey and comparable to fields played on during World Cup Field Hockey matches.” The water-based turf is manufactured by SporTurf and uses a water cannon irrigation system that allows the school to weather the field before use.

Secondly, the grass field at Rosacker Stadium will be replaced with a PowerBlade fiber-based turf surface field made by Shaw Sports Turf. The synthetic turf will act as padding to reduce shock absorption and also serves a temperature-control function that keeps it resistant to mildew, mold and salt.

Fort Worth Country Day track field project

Finally, the school’s Barrett Havran Track will feature the PTS 4000 paved-in-place system made by Paragon Track Surfaces. The base mat will be sealed with two-component polyurethane to create a fully impermeable surface, according to the news release.

“Our track and turf fields improvement project is truly game-changing for FWCD athletics,” said Eric Lombardi, FWCD’s head of school. “No more rainouts because of saturated fields; no more worries about wear-and-tear during practices or competition. We’ll have the ability to host international-caliber athletic events, all while showcasing our 104-acre campus. My top priority, however, is to ensure that FWCD student-athletes are able to pursue their athletic interests on safe fields and surfaces that offer the highest level of standards for competitive sports. Calling this project ‘transformative’ would be an understatement.”

The project is being funded by 21 FWCD donors. Fort Worth Country Day is partnering with Paragon Sports Constructors as the project’s design/build partner.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Zurn Elkay Releases 2025 Sustainability Report

    Zurn Elkay Water Solutions recently announced the release of its annual sustainability report, according to a news release. The 2025 report discusses the organization’s efforts to maintain good environmental stewardship and the solutions provided in helping customers meet sustainability goals.

  • Pitzer College

    Designing for Change in Higher Ed Learning Environments

    Higher education will continue to evolve, and learning environments must evolve with it. By prioritizing adaptable infrastructure, thoughtful reuse, strong energy performance, and wellness-centered design, campuses can create spaces that support learning today while remaining flexible for the future.

  • UT System Approves First Funds for New Campus

    The University of Texas System Board of Regents recently approved funds to build the first facility of a new campus in far west Fort Worth, Texas, according to university news. UTA West will serve as a branch of the University of Texas at Arlington and is scheduled to open in fall 2028.

  • LAN, Inc. Opens Office in College Station, Texas

    Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. (LAN) recently announced the opening of a new office in College Station, Texas, to support its regional client base, according to a news release. The organization provides engineering, design, and program management services for water, wastewater, transportation, stormwater, and education clients in the Brazos Valley.