KP School Committee Gets Stadium Turf Update

The King Philip School Committee is looking at the costs of installing a synthetic field at the 's stadium, as has eroded its quality.

The recent fix to the school's wastewater treatment problem has, according to district officials, limited the number of fields available, placing even more stress on the stadium field.

Rich Harwood, president of the KP Gridiron Club, said the field could not be used any more.

"The usage of the field right now is at its saturation point," he said. "We looked at replacing the field with natural grass, but this is a cyclical problem."

Harwood said planting a new grass field would not solve the issue.

"No one could use it for two years," he said. "Once they did, it would only kill the roots, as we'd be at the saturation point again."

He said the district is currently paying $30,000 to maintain the field, which has to have its uses limited during the year. Beyond that, he said, the MIAA will not allow tournament play on the field because of its condition.

"By installing a synthetic field, you'd increase the number of uses five-fold," he said. "Carpets now last 14 years."

He said this was not the first time artificial turf has been considered.

"Back in 2008, when we were putting in the field, there was a set of guidelines made [by Gale Associates]," he said. "They've contracted with us to bring the plans up to date."

Costs, he said, had decreased since then. He said a field was priced at over $1 million when the district first looked, but are now down to about $850,000.

District Superintendent Elizabeth Zielinski said a change could benefit not only the school's programs, but the community as well.

"What we can talk about is the ability of the community to use the field," she said. "Like men's soccer — I know they were looking at area fields."

Committee member Michael Gee asked how long the current field can endure.

"I gather that the field needs to be replaced," he said. "If we kept it at a minimal usage, would it need to be replaced anyway, or could we continue to limp along?"

District Business Manager Paul Schaefer said the field is getting close to the point where it needs to be replaced.

"It's getting close to there, but it's not there yet," he said. "We worked like crazy over the spring and summer, but what we really need is a year and a half — then we could have a great field. But then, within two or three years, it'd be ruined again."

"It's difficult to maintain because there's always people on it," he added.

Committee member Wendy Robeson said the finance committee would need to discuss the matter. She said the costs of natural grass and synthetic fields would have to be examined, as well as the viability of convincing the three towns that the change is needed.

Schaefer said the district must move quickly if this is to be done.

"If we want to be ready for the spring town meeting, we need our ducks in a row," he said. "We want to be able to go to the community and say we can fund this with the sources we have. We want to go to town meeting and say we need permission, but we have the funding."

Committee Chairman Patrick Francomano said the committee should discuss the matter when it gets firmer data, suggesting its first meeting in January.