By Rick Palsgrove
Southeast Editor
The new softball fields at Groveport Madison High School will have a synthetic turf playing surface.
The Groveport Madison Board of Education approved contracting with The Motz Group at a cost of $276,000 to install the synthetic turf on the two new softball fields. The new fields will be built after the existing high school is demolished. This is the same company that installed the synthetic turf on Le’Veon Bell Field in Cruiser Stadium last summer.
“This synthetic surface means games can be played in any conditions,” said Interim Superintendent John Hurd. “We can hold tournaments and generate revenue from fees.”
Hurd said it would not be unusual for the district to receive $4,000 to $5,000 in revenue from a weekend softball tournament.
Hurd said the synthetic turf has a life span of 12 to 15 years before it would need to be refurbished. He said the synthetic turf will cover the infield, but the outfield will remain natural grass.
Treasurer John Walsh said the funds for the synthetic turf will come from the district’s locally funded initiative, which is part of the monies generated from the bond issue that is funding the construction of the new high school. Unlike the new high school, which is co-funded by the state, Walsh said locally funded initiatives do not receive state co-funding. Therefore, the district will pay the total amount for the synthetic turf. He said another example of a locally funded initiative in the high school construction project is the school’s auditorium.
When asked if the school’s baseball field could some day also get a synthetic turf playing surface, Hurd said, “The baseball field could be discussed in the future. But we want to get past the high school construction project first.”
Band to perform at Peach Bowl
The Groveport Madison High School Marching Band was invited to perform at college football’s Peach Bowl and in the Peach Bowl parade in Atlanta, Ga. The band will be in Atlanta from Dec. 26-30. While in Atlanta, the band will also visit the CNN Center, the Georgia Aquarium, Martin Luther King’s birthplace, and the World of Coca-Cola. Band members will conduct fund raising efforts to pay for the trip.
“It is a huge honor to be invited and it is an amazing opportunity for the students and helps build our program,” said Groveport Madison Band Director Bart Pickenpaugh.
Paving project
The board approved contracting with Darby Creek Excavating at a cost of $110,000 to do paving/resurfacing work at Sedalia, Dunloe, and Madison elementaries and at Middle School South. Hurd said the work is expected to be completed between June 4-11.
