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Flood left silt and damage at Freedom fields; district secures $20,000 Panthers grant and is restoring turf
Summary
A September flood deposited an estimated 300 tons of silt on Freedom High School athletic fields; the district secured a $20,000 Carolina Panthers grant and contracted a turf restoration consultant. Baseball field declared unplayable until repairs address safety concerns.
The district’s athletic director updated the board on flood damage to Freedom High School and Walter Johnson athletic facilities caused by Hurricane Helene last fall and on restoration work underway.
The district contracted a turf and field-restoration consultant with professional Major League Baseball groundskeeping experience to evaluate and repair playing surfaces. The consultant estimated about 300 tons of silt were removed from Freedom’s fields, and recommended removal of a half-inch of infield skin at the baseball diamond, laser grading, aeration and top-dressing. The district reported donated materials (Statesville Brick donated brick dust for a warning track) and an awarded Carolina Panthers grant for $20,000 toward field work.
The athletic director said the baseball field sustained the worst damage — left-center and left-foul areas showed severe washout, and player safety is the top concern. He said the baseball field is not currently playable and the schedule is being adjusted week to week. Options include using nearby Shoey Field, Patton or a turf field in Marion for home games until restoration allows a safe return.
Walter Johnson’s facilities suffered less damage; work there included silt removal and minimal infield grading, and the athletics staff expects fields to be available when spring play begins.
The presentation stressed the slow timeline for recovery due to limited growing seasons following the flood and said additional sod replacement and reseeding will occur as conditions allow. The board received the report; no vote was required.
