Plan To Install $4M Synthetic Turf Fields At Johnson Middle School In Earlier Stages

FAIRFAX CITY, VA — City of Fairfax is considering a plan to replace the natural grass on the athletic fields adjacent to Katherine Johnson Middle School with synthetic turf.

Cathy Salgado, director of the city's Parks & Recreation Department, provided an overview of the project at Monday's City of Fairfax School Board work session.

The project, which is in the very early stages of planning, has been on the city's capital improvement plan for more than seven years.

The estimated cost for installing the three full-sized synthetic turf fields is $4 million.

Salgado told board members that the city already had the money for the project thanks to American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. The city approved $2 million in the fiscal year 2022 budget and an additional $2 million is part of the proposed fiscal year 2023 budget.

The Katherine Johnson fields are the property of City of Fairfax Schools and board members had many questions about the impact the project would have on the school's physical education program. The site currently has three grass athletic fields that are circled by a track, which is used by the middle school for PE classes.

In addition to the three large synthetic fields, the project could also include a new track and the installation of lights, so that the facilities could be used at night.

"The location of the fields on Jermantown Road, the heavy tree line that is between the neighbors and fields itself, lend itself to hopefully a positive outcome with lights on the fields," Salgado said. "That would greatly extend the use of the fields."

Salgado also suggested the possibility of adding some type of seating for spectators and bathrooms at nearby Kutner Park.

"The first step is putting together a scope of work that we would want done that we put out in an order to get a design consultant on board," Salgado said.

The design consultant would then meet with all the parties involved, including the school board and city council, to find out what elements to include in the design plan.

If the school board gave the go ahead to start the design plan process, the project could be accomplished in two to three years, according to Salgado.

Possible Timeline

• Issue a design RFP - March/April 2022
• Hire firm - June 2022
• Design concepts - October 2022
• Public outreach - Begin October 2022
• City Plan Review - December 2022-August 2023
• Governing Bodies Approval - Mid 2023
• Construction - Fall 2023

After Salgado finished her presentation and answered all of their questions, the school board asked her to continue moving forward with the project. They also requested that she return later in the spring with a formal proposal that they could vote on.