Background:
The River Valley Track and Football Field were installed and rubberized around 1998-1999 when the 1998 addition was added. The track should be resurfaced about every 10-15 years. Unfortunately, we haven't resurfaced since it was installed in 1999. The biggest piece is the drainage below the track and on the surface. We had geotechnical engineers do soil borings and they stated that if we only resurfaced the track, we would have cracks on a new track within a year.
In the end - we need to ensure the drainage below the track and on the surface is taken care of, along with the resurfacing.
The River Valley School District has been working through repairs for the football stadium and track surface. The repairs include:
1) Solving drainage issues under the base of playing surface (field) and track.
2) Solving drainage issues on the playing surface (field) and track.
3) Resurfacing the track.
Bid estimates for this project were obtained this past spring, and the cost of the project came in at $900,000. The District decided to "hold" on this project and dig deeper. The current grass football field is utilized about 50 times per year.
Another option, which the District needs your help with is a synthetic turf field. A synthetic turf field could be used almost 250 times per year, and the cost would be approximately $1.5 million. The field would be able to have all levels of football, boys' & girls' soccer, marching band, cheer/dance, and physical education classes utilize the stadium.
The school board has committed $750,000 and we are looking to our community to fundraise the additional $750,000.
The Board decided on this for 3 main reasons:
1) This project will not raise taxes or our tax rate. The District has previously budgeted money for this project in the maintenance/construction budget.
2) Return on Investment. To make repairs we currently need, and to replace the field with grass will cost $900,000. The field will continue to be used about 50 times per year.
A synthetic turf field will cost about $1.5 million and have approximately 250 uses per year.
3) Expand the Use of the Stadium. A synthetic turf field will allow for all soccer, football, marching band, cheer/dance and physical education classes to use the field without worrying about conditions.
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