The Lakeland Union High School Board of Education will be asked Monday to accept a donation of $720,000 from an area couple and a charitable banking foundation to finance installing synthetic turf on the high school stadium field.
The board’s finance committee Friday learned that Greg and Darcey Nicklaus of Arbor Vitae and the River Valley Bank Foundation have made a written pledge to each donate $360,000 for a total of $720,000 to install the high-tech turf. The donations would be made in equal installments over five years.Greg Nicklaus is one of the owners of River Valley Bank, which has a branch in Minocqua.
Finance Manager Greg Kopp said the district could either borrow money up front to pay for the turf or tap the district’s fund balance; while, in both cases, paying back the account or the loan with the donated funds as they are made. Kopp said he’s “leaning towards” the fund balance route. Currently, the field has natural grass. The addition of synthetic turf would allow soccer teams to use the field, as well as benefitting other users, such as for marching band practice and physical education classes, and perhaps even Ultimate Frisbee competition, school officials said Friday.
The synthetic turf (pending board approval) would be part of the outdoor sports facilities renovations taking place this summer. Finance members also reviewed a proposal to keep the walls of the outdoor locker rooms facility intact, but to completely renovate the interior. It was thought at one time the structure should be demolished and a new one built. Buildings and Grounds Director Dave Arnold said the architect told him the walls and roof of the locker room building are “solid.” The district is using an Act 32 authorized levy to finance its renovation, but language of the state legislation doesn’t allow going beyond the current footprint of a building. “He said by not demolishing the whole building and starting from new, we would save at least $100,000 on just the building. Not counting whatever the cost it would be to demolish it all,” Arnold said. Work on the locker rooms project would likely begin in May with completion in time for football season next fall.
Last January, the board approved spending $1.08 million to improve the outdoor sports complex, including new stadium lighting ($250,000) and a new locker room facility ($700,000). But that approval did not include synthetic turf installation, and the moving of field events (pole vault, long jump, shot put), the latter of which was estimated at $142,000. So, the board Monday would have to act on that project if they accept the $720,000 donation. Activities Director Don Scharbarth told Finance that installation of synthetic turf on playing fields has become more popular in recent years, with several schools and colleges in Wisconsin joining the growing list. Using conservative figures, he estimates at least a $2,000 annual savings on synthetic turf field maintenance over a grass field.
Moving the field events away from the playing field would reduce the potential of a lawsuit if a player were injured from running into a field apparatus, added Administrator/Principal Jim Bouche. Scharbarth said manufacturers have improved synthetic turf in recent year. The turf underlayment is a softer combination comprising 30 percent sand and 70 percent rubber particles. Synthetic turf is also less slippery than natural grass when wet. Scharbath said he’s reviewed numerous studies on the rate of player injuries on grass versus artificial turf, and believes “it’s a wash.” He wants the height of the synthetic turf at Lakeland slightly higher than usual, which would “slow” the speed of soccer balls, but having negligible effect on football play. At a prior school board meeting, a member said synthetic turf would increase the speed of soccer balls too much. Scharbarth said improvements to the quality of synthetic turf should expand its lifespan, currently estimated at 13-15 years. Using figures adjusted for inflation, he said it would cost about $450,000 to replace the stadium synthetic turf at that time.
