Williamsville Athletic Fields Project Board of Education July 9, 2014
In Williamsville we pride ourselves in being the best in everything, so why not carry that forward in athletics?
Work Group Goals Define district wide project Develop fiscally responsible plan to support project Build support/buy in for the project Parents Boosters WCSD Staff Student Athletes Community
FIELD STATS 2014 Spring Home Cancellations: 385 North High (128) East High (126) South High (131) Includes V, JV and Modified 2014 Spring Season began March 3; first game played on any District field was April 22 43 consecutive days inside, in a parking lot, or cancelled practices $2,525 paid for turf time on other fields when District fields were unplayable due to rain/snow Fall 2013 Football, Soccer, Field Hockey Spring 2014 Baseball, Softball, Lacrosse Depew, Amherst, Gateway Longview, Ralph Wilson Field House Booster Clubs paid fees Only 1 sectional soccer game played at East High in the past 7 years HS home games moved to Maple East Elementary
Williamsville Students in Sports Middle School* 2013 14 Participation Rate 7 th 8 th Graders Playing Interscholastic Sports (includes Modified) % of Total 7/8 Student Enrollment MILL 184 39.8% CASEY 129 34.2% HEIM 133 38.8% TRANSIT 195 37.4% WCSD MS Total 641 37.6% *Note: Mill Middle students play on South High teams Casey and Heim Middle students play on North High teams Transit Middle students play on East High teams
Williamsville Students in Sports 2013 14 Participation Rate High School HS Students Playing Interscholastic Sports % of Total HS Enrollment SOUTH 501 52.7% NORTH 628 49.2% EAST 550 51.4% WCSD HS Total 1,679 51.1%
6 Sectional Titles/Awards New York State Scholar Athlete School of Distinction Awards Awarded when all of a high school s varsity teams earn a 35 10 combined team average of 90 or higher for the year Section VI Titles & State Championships over the past ten years
2007 08 Athletic Field Study Soil tests indicated Click to District edit Master soil was subtitle loam style which is not typically well suited for high use athletic fields. Recommendation was made for the District to begin to actively plan for additional capacity in the coming years. Added water wheels and additional training for our Grounds staff. Our review does not specifically name any one field or location because the issues that exist are more widespread and in need of large scale adjustments.
2015
Introduction Brainstorm Project Scope TIMELINE Survey Parents (tentative*) Develop Prelim Plan Architect Financing Review Survey* Refine Plan Get Final Input Architect Committee Presentation Submit Plan to Board of Education for consideration JUNE 2014 SEPTEMBER 2014 OCTOBER 2014 NOVEMBER 2014 DECEMBER 2014 February: Presentation to the PTSA Council March 2015: Public Forum April/May 2015: Presentations to Community/Business Groups May 19, 2015 PUBLIC VOTE
Williamsville EAST High School
EAST High
EAST High
EAST High
EAST High
EAST High
EAST High
EAST High
EAST High
EAST High
EAST High
EAST High
Williamsville NORTH High School
NORTH High
NORTH High
NORTH High
NORTH High
NORTH High
NORTH High
NORTH High
NORTH High
North/Casey Fields September 8, 2012
North/Casey Fields
Williamsville SOUTH High School
South Fitness Room The Weight room is located above our locker rooms. We have outgrown the space, and most importantly, it is not handicapped accessible We have no elevator to this room, so climbing stairs provides the only access
SOUTH High
SOUTH High
SOUTH High
SOUTH High
SOUTH High
SOUTH High
SOUTH High
SOUTH High
Training Room Because the Training Room is too small, taping and examining are usually done on a portable bed in the hallway On the day of this photo (10/2), there were 9 athletes waiting in line to be taped or looked at before their practice or game.
OT/PT Room The OT/PT room here at South High School was created this year to house the students in our new 9 1 3 program. Due to the multiple needs for this space, it is currently located in what was formerly our Faculty Cafeteria. As such, students must travel through the cafeteria to enter the room. Faculty has been asked to now eat in our upstairs Faculty Lounge. The OT/PT room still has a door that connects it to the kitchen area, which used to stay open to provide a breeze.
South Pool The South High School pool is not large enough (it is 20 yards, while pools that host meets are usually 25 yards or longer) to allow us to host swim meets so it can only be used for Phys. Ed classes and Swimming practice. Our swim meets are currently held at Transit Middle School. The South pool is a 20 yard, 4 lane pool with only one 1 meter board.
Current Status of Athletic Fields Because we are landlocked and do not have room to fit all of our teams, we also send teams to other locations (Gateway Longview, ECC, Mill Middle) or ask them to practice on non fields (Open grass areas, parking lot).
Current Status of Stadium Facility Item Date Issues/Notes Stadium field grass 1998 Center strip down middle replaced Stadium track 1992 Resurfaced once since 1992 Stadium bleachers 1951?/1985 Original frame, aluminum benches in 1985 Press Box 1992 Light Poles 1982 Bases fixed 7 8 years ago Scoreboard 1985
Other facility issues The Grubs In both 2011 and 2013, the South stadium field has been infested with grubs (the report in 2013 indicated that there were at least 15 different kinds of grubs found), forcing us to have emergency pesticide applications and preventing both football and track from practicing, The 2011 infestation resulted in South s lacrosse team being unable to play any home games due to the potential damage to the field In 2013, the emergency pesticide application required us to move a Williamsville North vs. Williamsville East football game off our field (which meant they lost the opportunity to play under the lights). The grub issue also caused the Physical Education teachers to revise their lesson plans for three days
Looks can be Deceiving
Grubs These photos were taken after only one home game, and several weeks of perfect weather.
Grubs on the South Field The danger of playing on a field that has been infested by grubs is that, with no root system, the grass simply rips out of the ground causing extremely poor footing. Notice how the grass simply pulls out with very little effort, then imagine an athlete wearing cleats and trying to make a quick cut.
Time lost due to Grub problems 2011 2013 Entire season for Lacrosse 1 Modified Football game 2 JV Football games Powder Puff Football game Approx. 8 practice days for Football 3 days for Phys. Ed Classes (27 classes) 2 practice days for Football North vs. East Football game 3 days for Phys. Ed Classes (27 classes)
Stadium Press Box Click to Stadium edit Master press box was subtitle style built in 1992, but shows significant signs of wear and tear. In 2013, the press box received some costly repairs that patched up some of the issues and allowed us to use it (except for the roof area which is used for videotaping), however, the repairs did not include wiring or replacing the rotting wood exterior
South s Artificial Turf The artificial track is showing signs of wear and tear. Several areas near the edge are falling apart, and within the track there are areas in which weeds and grass have begun to grow through.
South s Artificial Track Left: A large crack that has appeared in one of the running lanes near the NE corner of the track Right: Grass and weeds growing in the high jump area
Rusting Bleachers The blue colored frame of the bleachers has been up at least 50 years, and we are seeing some significant areas of rust and wear due to use.
Rusting Bleachers Light pole Home Side in Parking Lot rusted from the base to the lights Ramp fuse box Home Side on handicap area ramp entrance
Rusting Bleachers
This picture is a beam located under the home bleachers. It is directly above, and in plain sight, of the area where fans walk to get to their seats. Rusting Bleachers
Cement The cement bases underneath the bleachers are seeing deterioration, including cracking, due to age and weathering, and discoloration due to the rust from the fences. Let s plan now so we aren t having to react to this potential major safety issue later.
Under the Bleachers Area located underneath the bleachers has become an eyesore, with garbage and weeds collecting Old electrical wiring located under bleachers Fencing around stadium has started to rust and fall apart
SOUTH High Football Field
2015
Why look at turf? Sports played on the field would not be limited to just Football and Lacrosse Playable earlier and later in the season (when Pittsford Central Schools investigated the possibility of adding synthetic turf fields, the Athletic Director s Practice Report estimated the potential for an additional two months of outdoor playable season per year) Less potential for delays and scheduling conflicts for both District and community Savings from renting and traveling to out of district turf sites Multiple use flexibility Benefit to athletic practice and Physical Education schedules Ability to host Sectional Playoffs and other competitions
Why look at turf? Maintain competitive advantage. Our students are not as familiar with playing on turf, which is used for nearly all late round sectional games, as well as regional and state championship level games. Demand on current grass fields limits the ability of the fields to recover A 21 st century facility that our community can use and be proud of Some communities have youth sports complexes and/or turf options available, however this venue does not exist in Williamsville, making the District the main provider of athletic fields.
Why look at turf? Provides community teams the ability to utilize fields throughout the year without worrying about damaging them for the scholastic athletic seasons. Of the three high schools in Williamsville, only South currently has lights on their stadium field making it an ideal location to put turf down and maximize the usage for the facility. Examples: North vs. East football game in 2013 Playoff games hosted by all three schools Night games hosted by all three schools Sectionals and Regionals
Why look at turf? Evolution of Athletic Technology Cinder tracks Wooden bats Post bases Water filled helmets Natural grass fields All weather tracks Aluminum bats Break away bases Air filled helmets Synthetic turf fields
Who else has artificial turf?