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

  • Montclair State University Debuts New VR Facility

    Montclair State University in Montclair, N.J., recently announced the completion of a new virtual reality learning facility developed in partnership with Dreamscape Learn, according to a news release. The 2,450-square-foot lab space is inside the College of Communication and Media building and will serve students pursuing careers in digital media, virtual reality, and content creation.

  • Phoenix School District Breaks Ground on New Prep Academy

    The Creighton Elementary School District near Phoenix, Ariz., recently broke ground on a campus replacement for Biltmore Preparatory Academy, according to a news release. The new space will allow the school to expand its enrollment by 50 percent for K–8 students and accommodate modern, collaborative learning styles.

  • Cleveland High School Breaks Ground on Modernization

    Portland Public Schools in Portland, Ore., recently announced that construction has begun on a modernization project for Cleveland High School, according to a news release. The existing building will be replaced with a new, 300,000-square-foot facility at the same site.

  • Back-to-School Playground Safety: 7 Common Hazards to Look for After Summer Break

    As summer break comes to an end, school administrators have plenty to prepare before students return. While classrooms, hallways and common areas often receive attention during all the back-to-school preparations, the playground should not be overlooked. Months of weather exposure, storms, and regular wear can leave behind hazards that may not be immediately noticeable.