Holy Ghost Prep School Getting Synthetic Turf Field

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA —Holy Ghost Preparatory School has been granted unanimous approval to convert its athletic field from grass to turf.

The 444-student Catholic college-preparatory high school for young men recently appeared before the Bensalem Township Council for consideration of preliminary and final land development for changes to its athletic fields at the school on 2429 Bristol Pike.

Greg Geruson, the school's president, said the field upgrades would not only benefit the immediate community of students and their families but also should help township residents.

Project engineer Mike Bowker said the school campus consists of 43.5 acres.

He said there is currently a natural grass field inside the track that is going to be converted to a synthetic turf field.

Bowker said Holy Ghost Prep would retain the track and rebuild it on the base of the existing track and the track will stay in its current location.

There will be synthetic turf along the interior of the track along the “D-Zones” that will involve events such as Long Jumps, Triple Jumps, and Pole Vault on either side of the new field, Bowker said.

He added that the lower left track and field areas where they have their events such as Shot Putt, Javelin, and Discus will continue to take place down in that area.

Council Vice President Joseph Pilieri said that other groups and organizations will have access to
the field, and since this will be generating income from these events, but wondered about safety.

"How will they be handling the Bensalem Police Department regarding traffic control?" he asked.

Geruson said Holy Ghost would hire Bensalem police officers whenever the opportunity presents itself.

Holy Ghost discussed waivers with the council, stating that it located all the utilities within the project area.

Township Engineer Phil Wursta said that Waiver No. 3 is the one where standards changed with
regard to reinforced concrete pipe versus the new plastic pipe.

Wursta said that plastic pipe is being proposed on every project that comes through the township because it is inexpensive and the material lasts longer.

The township engineer said Bensalem is in the process of changing the Stormwater Ordinance to
include the plastic pipe and eliminate concrete pipe.

Bowker said Holy Ghost Prep would comply with all of the comments and review letters.

The council approved the project in a 4-0 vote at a recent meeting.