A trio of local contractors has volunteered to repair a steep drop-off, running more than 300 feet along the home sideline of the main athletic field.
At least part of the playing fields at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School will get an upgrade this year, regardless of what happens with the legal case over an artificial turf field.
A trio of local contractors volunteered to repair a steep drop-off, running more than 300 feet along the home sideline of the main athletic field. The difference in level has posed a literal stumbling block for students at play.
“A lot of kids have gotten hurt,” Caleb Nicholson, an assistant football coach who also owns Contemporary Landscapes, said at Monday night’s school committee meeting.
Mr. Nicholson’s company is teaming with John Keene Excavation of West Tisbury and Carroll’s Trucking of Vineyard Haven to rehabilitate the 325-foot-long strip to about 50 feet wide, he said.
The job will include removing the existing turf, which Mr. Nicholson said is not in good enough condition to roll and re-use; digging out and reserving the soils; adding new, sandy subsoil and then the existing soil before finishing with fresh sod on top.
All three businesses are donating their work, which for Contemporary Landscapes represents about $7,500 in labor, materials and equipment, according to a proposal Mr. Nicholson presented Monday.
“We like to try to help out the community, and specifically sports and things like this,” he told the school committee.
“All we really are looking for is some compensation for the approximate cost of the sod,” Mr. Nicholson said.
He estimated the sod would run about $12,000, and said the three companies have agreed to pay anything over that amount.
The school committee voted to authorize up to $15,000 from the facilities budget, so that the three contractors would not have to pick up extra costs on top of what they already are donating.
“They’re giving us so much,” board member Kathryn Shertzer said.
Mr. Nicholson said the team has consulted with Chris Huntress of Huntress Associates, the designer for the school’s planned track and field redevelopment, and plans to do the work over the weekend of June 3, after the athletic season has ended.
The school field has been a hot-button issue in recent years. The school sought to put in a turf field but had the proposal rejected by the Oak Bluffs planning board last year. The school has appealed that decision to the state Land Court.
Comments
That lede is appropriate for
A little loose with the lede MVThat lede is appropriate for a column/blog not a news story — way too casual and had an opinion embedded within it.
Thank you to these volunteers
Islander61 OBThank you to these volunteers. They have volunteered to do what the grass field proponents promised but walked away from several years ago. This will temporarily fix a problem, but the plan to build a synthetic turf field is the absolute proven way to fix the field safely, fiscally, and now we know from the soil testing, what will be best for the aquifer.
This is a great temporary fix
FF EdgartownThis is a great temporary fix / solution to a major grade problem. It does not address the larger problem of field orientation, or the violation of the ADA American Disabilities Act. This is criminal and should be enough to move the sports complex project forward. Keep in mind sod requires a lot of water, care and fertilization in order to grow. It also needs to be mowed at the proper height once a week synthetic turf does not require any of this.(water, care & nutrients)
Great article! Contractors
Springfield Foundation Repair COGreat article! Contractors volunteering for field repair at high schools can be a great way for the community to come together and support education. It not only provides much-needed repairs and upgrades to school facilities, but also fosters a sense of pride and ownership in the community. Additionally, the generosity of contractors volunteering their time and resources can serve as a positive example for students and encourage them to give back to their community in the future.
Add new comment