New Turf For Tuffy

On March 28, the School announced a complete makeover for the athletic field set to take place this summer. It will include a new turf field, renovated baseball dugouts, and new spectator bleachers. 

The field has always been an integral part of the School’s campus. It is a focal point when seen in aerial photos and also doubles as the chosen place for community gathering in times of emergency.  

When students enter campus in the morning, the first thing they see is the field, given its close proximity to Lot F. Although I must admit I will miss the natural beauty of a grass field, the renovation surely has its upsides. 

There are a number of issues present with the current field that justifies a renovation. First, the infield dirt has always been a cause of concern for the soccer and lacrosse teams. Players kick up a lot of dirt when the ball travels in that part of the field, and it can also be difficult for players to maintain their footing on dirt while wearing cleats designed for grass. Essentially, the transition from grass to dirt is never a smooth one. 

Additionally, a turf infield will also benefit softball and baseball players as the dirt surface requires an unrealistic amount of water to keep it soft. Understandably, the infield is usually inconsistent and slightly sloped on the third base side. The turf will provide a consistent and reliable alternative. The renovation will also eliminate the field’s sloped centerfield corner along with any other level imperfections. 

Finally, the field will require much less maintenance. It will not require fertilizer or replacement grass and the sidelines will be permanent, so the field will be ready for games at any time regardless of the sport. Another positive is that teams who use the field will be able to play through rainy conditions which will limit the amount of rescheduled games and therefore scheduling conflicts overall. 

The renovation is consistent with the School’s green initiative and is an environmentally conscious investment itself. Furthermore, the School has always tried to find ways to limit their water usage. For example, the field was not watered in the past after rainy weather. But, starting this upcoming fall, the School’s water usage will significantly decrease. 

Sid Chatterjee, a junior soccer player, says that he is “extremely excited for the new field. I felt the old field often hindered the improvement of my skills and opposing players would always talk to us about how bad our field is.” He continued by saying, “hopefully this new field will prevent common injuries and help us improve as a collective unit.”