Grass is greener elsewhere: Tuslaw eyes synthetic turf football field for next season

TUSCARAWAS TWP. — As the only district in Stark County to have a natural grass football field, Tuslaw Local Schools — with the help of a volunteer committee — has launched a fundraising effort to get synthetic turf.

Tuslaw parent and football Sideliner Jesse Gleespen is heading a volunteer committee seeking donations for the project.

The fundraising committee hopes to raise around $900,000. The district has agreed to contribute one-third of the cost from the district's permanent improvement fund when the remainder of the money is raised.

Organizers hope to have the new turf installed by the start of football season next year.

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Turf field is a win for athletes, the community

Officials believe the grass field at William E. Kurtz stadium is a disadvantage.

"It's a major competitive disadvantage," athletic director Chris Lapish said.

The condition of the grass field often leaves teams searching for alternative places for practice and games, Lapish said.

The football team has lost 10 to 15 practice days on the field in the last few years because of weather, he said.

The junior varsity and middle school teams have had to play games on the practice fields, which have no stands or scoreboards for fans.

During a recent season, rain caused the district to move four home games to their opponents' fields, Lapish said.

That equals a loss of funding. When games can't be played on the football field, the district and booster clubs that run the concession stand lose out on ticket sales and concessions.

Not only does the condition of the field impact the budget, so does the loss of students to other districts with better facilities. On average, the district loses five to six students yearly to other districts because of sports.

District officials estimate they lose between $28,0000 to $32,000 a year when students opt to transfer to another district.

The grass field also requires a lot of maintenance. From mowing and seeding and weed control, the maintenance team keeps busy tending to the field and it's not cheap. Inclement weather requires additional maintenance and pulling those workers from other duties, district treasurer Jason Norris said.

"We are at the mercy of the weather," Lapish added.

The synthetic surface would cut down on the maintenance of the field, as well as the loss of revenue from canceled games.

The football teams aren't the only ones that will benefit from a turf field, Gleespen added.

The soccer teams could play on the field, the softball and baseball teams could use the field in the early spring when grass surfaces aren't available, youth sports and the marching band could all utilize the turf.

"Allowing the youth sports to use the field builds excitement," he said.

Lapish said the district's soccer field is getting better but it does not have lights and it is one of the smallest fields. As an emerging sport in the district, Lapish hopes to move soccer games to the turf.

"There are so many possibilities," Gleespen said.

One of the biggest is hosting Ohio High School Athletic Association events, including regional and sectional playoff games.

The OSHAA requires a synthetic turf field to host a playoff game. While the school wouldn't earn money from ticket sales, it could get revenue from parking and concessions, he said.

Funding the project

While the district has committed to its share of the project, Gleespen and his committee have a long way to go.

The committee is focusing on corporate sponsorships, including naming rights to the field at a cost of $300,000. The Kurtz name would remain on the stadium. The sponsor would be listed on the field, at the entrance and on a new billboard planned for state Route 93.

The naming rights is for 10 years or the life of the turf.

Sponsorships can also be purchased for the press box/grandstand, concession stand, single corner of the field, scoreboard and time clock.

While he would not disclose who has stepped up, Gleepsen said the committee has met with several corporate sponsors interested in contributing.

Community members can also contribute, including a $100 to $499 bronze level (name on sign); $500 to $999 silver level (individual plaque) and $1,000 to $5,000 gold level (sign on top of bleachers).

"Our focus is on corporate sponsors," Gleespen said. "In an ideal situation, if we are lucky to get all the corporate sponsors and we raise more than the project, we could look at a track timing tower, LED lights and more."

Superintendent Melissa Marconi said the prospect of turf is super exciting and something the district has contemplated for years.

"We are all in favor of a well-rounded education and making sure our athletes have what they'd need but our primary role is an educational institution," she said.

Gleespen said the district is succeeding in providing a great education to its students and it would be nice to have facilities to match that.

"There is a lot of positive momentum and to have a nice facility would feed off that," he said. "It's so much more than football. We can do a night under the lights for the kids to read on the field. We can have a movie night on the football field. ... There are so many more things we can do. It's so beneficial for other students and community."

Reach Amy at 330-775-1135 or amy.knapp@indeonline.com.

This article originally appeared on The Independent: Tuslaw Local Schools raising money for synthetic turf football field