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Board directs synthetic U-12 turf with greenery for Fitch Mountain field after debate
Summary
After extended discussion about drainage, recycled water, PFAS and community access, the board directed staff to proceed with a synthetic U-12 field at Fitch Mountain with extensive perimeter trees and softened edges, and asked for fall design plans.
The board authorized staff to proceed with design of a synthetic turf playing surface sized for U-12 play at the Fitch Mountain campus and asked the design team to soften edges with trees and outdoor-learning spaces.
Tanaya Dale, the district’s Counterpoint construction manager, briefed trustees on the tradeoffs between natural and synthetic turf, noting natural grass is cooler but requires substantial irrigation and is prone to extended unusability on the site because groundwater drains to that location. "Natural turf is for sure cooler... It requires a lot of water," she said. Dale also said the synthetic turf the district is considering is a PFAS-free product and that robust subsurface drainage will be needed regardless of surface choice. Trustees and public commenters debated fencing, community access and heat concerns; several board members proposed and supported a smaller field footprint with more landscaping. A motion carried directing staff to move forward with a synthetic U-12 field and return with design proposals in the fall.
Trustees asked staff to confirm whether community programs would be affected and requested follow-up with the city’s parks-and-rec department; staff said they would check shared-use implications before final design. The construction manager said ground testing and state-architect review are part of the summer’s next steps before bringing back preliminary plans.
