WCHS Football Facility To Get Field Turf
WARSAW – Fisher Field is going to look a whole lot different come next fall.
The rumor of field turf coming to the home of the Warsaw football program is now a reality.
The WCS School Board gave its approval to a plan tonight to install field turf, along with a new track surface, this summer at the facility at WCHS.
The issue of replacing the natural grass field with field turf is something that has been explored and discussed for some time in recent years. The plan is now moving ahead, thanks to a partnership that the school corporation has with Lutheran Health Network and Kosciusko Community Hospital that was announced last month.
“Hopefully this will help us to address some of the concerns that we have regarding improvement of our athletic facilities,” said WCHS Athletic Director Dave Anson at the time of the announcement of the partnership LHN/KCH. “There are things we can do to enhance many programs and provide a lot of opportunities for other parts of the school system and the community as well.”
The planned project is set to begin at the conclusion of the outdoor track season. It will be financed through general obligation bonds, which the funds from the partnership will cover. The community partnership between the school system and LHN/KCH, which was announced at a boys basketball game back on Feb. 12, is a 10-year, one-million dollar agreement.
“We are very excited about moving forward and starting the project this spring when our track and field season concludes,” said Anson tonight following the approval by the School Board. “It will allow so many more programs an opportunity to get out on the TAC (Tiger Athletic Complex) throughout the year and with improved safety and playability aspects of a synthetic surface it will certainly enhance what we can provide to our programs and kids.”
“There is no question that multiple athletic teams, physical education classes, our youth programs, as well as the Tiger Pride Marching Band will see a benefit from this project.”
The new synthetic field turf will make the Fisher Field facility one of the few in Northern Indiana to have that type of playing surface. Warsaw will join area schools such as Penn, East Noble and South Bend St. Joseph as those who will have the surface.
Anson said that the athletic program at WCHS is also looking forward to enhancements to the training facilities as well in addition to the installation of field turf.
“The current condition of some of our training equipment and furnishings is not something we are pleased with and through this partnership some items will be replaced and there will be additional equipment provided to better treat and care for our student athletes,” Anson remarked.
An exact figure on the cost of the field turf installation was not available tonight. The Motz Corporation, based out of Cincinnati, will install the new playing surface.