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Schools

Turf Wars Avoided at Amity

Board of Education votes unanimously to allow a community group to raise funds for turf field

 

Don't be surprised if you're approached over the next few weeks by a group of Amity parents who really do believe that the grass is always greener (on football fields that have turf).

The Amity Athletic Field Turf Committee, led by Jeff Kwolek, received formal permission by the Amity Board of Education Monday night to raise funds to purchase and install an artificial turf field at . Now they'll approach residents, alumni and businesses in the BOWA towns to ask for donations to cover the cost of the turf field.

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Kwolek estimates $800,000 will need to be raised, but once the field is complete, it will cost the board of education $15,000 annually to maintain the field.

"That's $20,000 less than it currently costs to maintain the field," Kwolek told the board members. The turf field would last an estimated eight to ten years, though most schools in areas with a topography and climate similar to Woodbridge are seeing turf fields last for 12 years before they need to be replaced. Replacing the turf is not as costly as the initial installation is.

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Though there are concerns of safety and carcinogens raised most times a turf field is proposed at a school, assured the board that a turf field is safe.

The committee has set a goal of two years to raise the necessary funds. Once the money is raised, the project will take eight months to complete.

Kwolek said the field will likely be traditional green with some Amity black and yellow incorporated. The class of 2015 could be the first to play on the field. But first the committee will raise the funds and decide on how sponsors will be recognized. 

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