FieldTurf project to begin May 30
Published 11:11 am Monday, March 3, 2008
SHORELINE — Work is scheduled to start May 30 to remove the 11-year-old AstroTurf at Shoreline Stadium and replace it with FieldTurf.
Money for the new turf comes from the $149.5 million Shoreline schools bond passed by Shoreline voters Feb. 7.
The Shoreline School Board accepted a base bid of $544,220 for the work earlier this month. Turf maker FieldTurf International Inc. will do the installation.
The turf at the stadium is worn, maintenance costs have risen and safety is a concern, school officials said.
“The synthetic turf on there has lasted its life expectancy and beyond, it’s just in need of replacement,” said Paul Plumis, interim coordinator for capital projects for the Shoreline School District. The new product consists of artificial grass fibers stabilized by a blend of synthetic earth — silica sand, rubber granules and re-ground athletic shoe material, according to the FieldTurf Web site.
The layer of material below the turf may also have to be replaced depending on what kind of condition it is in.
The stadium will be closed until July 7, when the project is supposed to be completed.
“We felt this was the time we could get this done, the window to do it this summer,” said Don Dalziel, Shoreline School District athletic director.
A middle school track meet May 30 and an all-comers Wednesday summer track series will still be held on the track.
The Shoreline Stadium project is the first in a series of improvements dedicated to district athletic fields. About $13 million of the bond money is earmarked for athletic projects.
Synthetic turf and all-weather tracks are planned for Shorecrest and Shorewood high schools and Einstein and Kellogg middle schools. Synthetic turf will also be installed on baseball and softball fields at the high schools.
Work at Shorecrest and the middle schools could begin as early as summer 2007. A site plan to determine whether to remodel Shorewood or build a new school will have to be completed before work begins there.
