Well it appears that for 2008 we may have a new venue for HS playoffs in the Northern Regions. According to the Petoskey News the district is asking for a 20
million dollar athletic complex to be built. This complex will be around 4000 in capacity with a good 8 lane track and infill turf. So if this gets passed it
will host a multitude of events over the next few years. I doubt anybody in that region will be able to put something like that together except for Traverse
City. If this gets passed mine and a lot of other folks wishes should be answered with Thriby Field being carpeted over. Adding to the list of proposals,
Allendale PS just west of Grand Rapids is looking at some massive proposals. Right now it looks like a total of 4 proposals are being looked at and one of
them is almost 3 million dollar improvement to the HS athletic complex. If it passes it will increase the size of the facility by almost double, plus put in
the infill turf.
In Allegan County it appears that one district is in the crossroads. From the info I was able to find out Plainwell passed a bond issue back in 2002 and was to use a portion of the money to purchase some land. Well the place that was going to sell started on conditions that the district did not like. Hence the money around 1 million dollars has been unspent. This money has to be used by 2008 and the district heard some info in March about placing infill turf on thier semi new facility. I guess they did not get the best data since MSU has stated for a good grass feild to work well it can not hold more than 40 events a year. Well they are going well over that and the Superintedent stated that it would be difficult to go below that number. As such infill turf has been talked about to replace the 300k grass field. I doubt it could be put in place this year but you never know. In anycase I thought I put that out.
Well Grand Ledge has decided to not put the infill turf on thier new bond proposal for this year unlike last year when the combined bond failed to pass. Ionia though passed thier bond proposals and will be getting an updated facilty although if it has infill turf seems unlikely as the plans do not state anything but should be completed this August. Of course Spring Lake is currently finishing up thier work on thier expanded stadium.
That is all of the bond proposals so far for this year. I know there is a vote tommorrow. Now personally myself I have a feeling that if a district has one field for thier athletics per high school they should go with infill turf. If a district is smaller and has multiple fields then I say stick with grass, unless you actually think a reduction of costs would be suitable. As for larger districts like say my old stomping grounds of East Kentwood, I feel that the benifits of a large suburban district with multiple fields of infill turf do allow better flexability and the ability to host more events. Its still a cost that should be taken on a case by case basis. The district I live in has 2 HS but 3 fields. Its a situation that although infill turf would be nice on all 3 fields its not necessary but I would have no issues with the HS with one field getting it first.
In Allegan County it appears that one district is in the crossroads. From the info I was able to find out Plainwell passed a bond issue back in 2002 and was to use a portion of the money to purchase some land. Well the place that was going to sell started on conditions that the district did not like. Hence the money around 1 million dollars has been unspent. This money has to be used by 2008 and the district heard some info in March about placing infill turf on thier semi new facility. I guess they did not get the best data since MSU has stated for a good grass feild to work well it can not hold more than 40 events a year. Well they are going well over that and the Superintedent stated that it would be difficult to go below that number. As such infill turf has been talked about to replace the 300k grass field. I doubt it could be put in place this year but you never know. In anycase I thought I put that out.
Well Grand Ledge has decided to not put the infill turf on thier new bond proposal for this year unlike last year when the combined bond failed to pass. Ionia though passed thier bond proposals and will be getting an updated facilty although if it has infill turf seems unlikely as the plans do not state anything but should be completed this August. Of course Spring Lake is currently finishing up thier work on thier expanded stadium.
That is all of the bond proposals so far for this year. I know there is a vote tommorrow. Now personally myself I have a feeling that if a district has one field for thier athletics per high school they should go with infill turf. If a district is smaller and has multiple fields then I say stick with grass, unless you actually think a reduction of costs would be suitable. As for larger districts like say my old stomping grounds of East Kentwood, I feel that the benifits of a large suburban district with multiple fields of infill turf do allow better flexability and the ability to host more events. Its still a cost that should be taken on a case by case basis. The district I live in has 2 HS but 3 fields. Its a situation that although infill turf would be nice on all 3 fields its not necessary but I would have no issues with the HS with one field getting it first.
