Libertyville High School | Libertyville High School
Libertyville High School | Libertyville High School
The Wildcats might find themselves feeling a little better on and off the football field at Libertyville High School (LHS) this fall after the school completes the replacement of its artificial turf field.
Athletic Director Briant Kelly told the Lake County Gazette said it was time to replace the turf with new material after it became clear it was weathering away.
“The original turf was installed in the summer of 2005, so we got probably a couple more years than we originally thought," Kelly said. "It was 12 years. It just became where the fibers in the turf just weren’t holding up anymore. So it was past its usable lifetime.”
LHS students have already been enjoying the new turf installed at the school's Brainerd Field almost two years ago.
“Once we installed that, you could really tell the difference in the actual turf,” Kelly said. “It was a much softer surface. The blades weren’t worn down or splitting. So it actually looks more like grass should look.”
The new football field turf cost $518,000 and was paid out of the school district’s budget.
“We had already figured into our capital plan to replace the turf," Kelly said. "I think we got two more years out of the [old turf]. Part of that comes from the maintenance and cleaning we’ve done on the turf over the years and that has helped for long life. We’ll do the same thing at Brainerd and the stadium turf. They’re on a maintenance schedule for cleaning. I think it’ll be a much safer surface for our student athletes and physical education and athletics. I’m excited for them to have the nice, new artificial turf. I’m hoping it lasts just as long and eventually down the road we’re replace that, but not for awhile.”
The school has undergone its final inspection after pulling up the old turf on Memorial Day weekend.
“They rolled it up and took out all the material like the sand and the gravel underneath to make sure it’s at the same level it was when it was originally installed," he said. "They pulled that out and started the process of installing the new turf.”
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