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Bryan ISD approves $697,664 turf replacement at Merrill Greene Stadium over safety and usage concerns
Summary
The board voted to award Paragon Sports a $697,664 contract to replace nine-year-old artificial turf at Merrill Greene Stadium after staff reported safety (GeoMax hardness) test results, high event usage and limited sponsorship success; bond funds will cover the cost if a corporate sponsor is not secured.
The Bryan ISD board approved a $697,664 contract with Paragon Sports to replace the artificial turf at Merrill Greene Stadium.
Athletics director Derek Rush told trustees the existing turf (installed in 2016) had reached the end of its lifespan given heavy annual use for practices, games and community events; staff cited safety concerns such as exposed fibers, grass pushing through the turf and GeoMax hardness testing that evaluates surface softness and potential concussion risk. Rush said vendors Paragon, Helles and Symmetry performed GeoMax testing and that Paragon has completed district work previously (references provided to other local districts).
Trustees questioned the safety evidence, the tradeoffs between turf and natural grass, long-term replacement planning, and cost recovery when external groups use facilities. Staff said the district explored naming-rights sponsorships to offset cost but had not secured a sponsor in time for the season; they identified available bond funds (2014 and 2019 bond balances totaling roughly $1.3 million combined) as an allowable funding source for the purchase and said sponsorship revenue could later reimburse bond funds or be held for future replacement cycles. The district also said it plans to revisit rental fees to improve cost recovery.
A trustee moved to award the contract; the board voted in favor (ayes recorded) and the motion passed. Staff said installation would be completed before the upcoming season, with work scheduled for June'''July.
