Plum to replace grass ball fields with turf, resurface football field with 'NFL quality product'

Plans to replace Plum High School’s baseball and softball field playing surfaces with synthetic turf, and replacing the football field turf and track are moving forward.

The school board Wednesday night approved using about $2.32 million in bond refinancing saving for the project, as well as award contracts to three companies for the work through a state purchasing agreement.

Artificial grass manufacturer Act Global’s contract is for $1.4 million. Qualite Sports Lighting was selected at a cost of nearly $640,000 and ATT Sports will handle the track for close to $290,000.

Board President Mike Devine said the state purchasing agreement allowed the district to get good deals and expand its athletic improvements.

“The football field is already turf, but it is at the end of its life, so this is a much-needed replacement,” Devine said. “Given the scope of the project and the contracts we were able to secure, upgrading the softball and baseball fields from grass to turf just made sense at this time.

“The consistency of the playing field, low maintenance, aesthetically pleasing, and most importantly, giving our student athletes a state-of-the-art venue to showcase their talent made this decision a no-brainer.”

District Business Manager John Zahorchak said administrators reviewed four proposals for the turf, two for the lighting and two for the track.

“We held a thorough (request for proposals) process,” Devine said. “Each of the finalists were given opportunities to present their product to a panel comprised of four of our administrators, our two consultants and three board members. We spent roughly six hours listening to the presentations.

“Hats off to all of the vendors. They were extremely knowledgeable, and I really do not think we could have made a bad decision regardless of who we decided to go with.

‘An NFL quality product’

“We are putting an NFL quality product at Plum High School.”

More information about the project is available on the district’s website under March 2020 “related documents.”

The turf would have a sub-base, sand, rubber fill, yarn and an elastic layer. Having an elastic layer would improve player safety and increase shock absorption, according to the documents.

Lights will be added to the baseball and softball fields. The lights at the football field will be replaced, among other electrical improvements.

Superintendent Brendan Hyland said student safety is always the top priority, and the upgrades could help reduce injuries as well as make Plum the envy of many districts.

“I am very confident that we are going to have facilities that are second-to-none,” he said. “We’re going to set the bar awfully high and we’re going to search for success.”

Pandemic speeds up timeline

The project was originally expected to start in June after graduation with the hope of having the football field and track done before fall sports practice on Aug. 17. The baseball and softball fields would likely take a little longer due to permitting issues.

Zahorchak said work would likely start sooner since students are not at the facility due to Gov. Tom Wolf closing schools statewide through the rest of the academic year because of the covid-19 pandemic.

“We have jumped the schedule big-time,” he said. “We’ll probably be done with the work by the end of July.”

More bond savings spending

The turf project was not the only one approved to be paid for through the bond refinancing.

The board authorized the purchase of four new 72-passenger buses through Blue Bird at a total cost of just over $350,000 .

Zahorchak said the new additions will replace four buses in the 40-plus bus fleet that are at least 13 years old.

It’s expected to take about a year for them to be constructed and ready for Plum routes.