Schools
Batavia Could Spend $13 Million on Artificial Turf and Field Improvements
A Batavia committee proposes a $13 million plan that could give District 101 an artificial turf field and keep practices on the campus, area media report. Geneva spent $1.1 million by comparison, less a $450,000 donation from an anonymous donor.
Neighboring Batavia might be doing more than keep up with the Jones' by recommending an artificial turf field and other athletic improvements—at a cost of $13 million.
Batavia School District 101 could spend as much that much to build an artifical turf field and keep sports and extracurricular practices on the school campus, the Daily Herald reports.
School District 101 had talked about taking land from Mooseheart and using elementary schools for practice fields, but Batavia Buildings and Grounds Director Pat Browne told the Batavia School Board at last week's meeting that a committee of school officials, parents and boosters would prefer to keep practice fields on campus.
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The plan calls for eliminating the arboretum on the southwest corner of the Batavia High School campus, the Daily Herald said.
A Chicago Tribune article said no funding has been secured for the project, although the committee did present an architect's rendering of the new fields.
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An artificial-turf field would be located on the southeast side of the stadium, and a detention pond would be put underground, the Daily Herald reported.
Geneva School District 304 made an artificial turf investment, which culminated in a finished Burgess Field in time for the 2012-13 fall sports season. However, Geneva received a $450,000 gift from an anonymous donor and paid $1.1 million total for the work that included an upgrade of the school track.
The advantage of artificial turf is cost savings over time, because of reduced maintenance cost. Also, multiple sports teams and bands can practice on the artificial turf without damaging the surface.
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- Burgess Field Work Begins; Follow Progress With Online 'Construction Cam'
- 8 Essays: A Case Against Artificial Turf in Geneva
- Burgess Field Ready to Go for Fall Season
