ALTER TURF PROJECT:
$728,000: Cost of resurfacing playing field
$440,000: Cost of resurfacing practice field
$150,000: Cost of new bleachers
$60,000: Cost of new all-weather track
Monday: First event on practice field, football camp
Aug. 14: First event on playing field, boys soccer scrimmage vs. Springboro
KETTERING — For 29 years, Bob Ellis has been equal parts field maintenance, grass groomer and general all-around contractor at Alter High School. No more.
“We’re in the 21st century now,” beamed Ellis, also the Knights’ boys varsity soccer coach. “It’s just incredible.”
What has Ellis giddy — along with everyone else associated with the East David Road landmark — is a comprehensive reboot of the game and practice field surfaces behind the high school. Often reduced to a mud or dust pit since its beginnings, both will be outfitted with state-of-the-art synthetic turf in time for fall sports.
Alter’s boys and girls sports programs have raised many championship trophies. This rivals their greatest triumphs. It’s also among the crowning achievements to celebrate the Catholic school’s 50 years of existence this fall.
Ellis isn’t so easily won over.
“When it’s done, I’ll be in shock,” he said. “I won’t believe it until it’s totally done.”
In the beginning
Alter’s “Turf Project” has its roots in a $15 million capital campaign that began in 2008. At a landlocked location with no room to expand its athletic facilities, school officials and major donors pledged to upgrade playing fields.
First up was Michael Guenin, a 1986 Alter grad, who made a sizable donation.
Another benefactor matched that. Several more gifts were made. The fundraising effort hit high gear last fall when 125 additional patrons were secured. The entire project will cost about $1.5 million and is expected to be paid off in about five years.
“We were fortunate,” said Rick Willits, a 1988 Alter grad and the school’s director of institutional advancement.
“We were suffering from a lot of overuse. We needed the 24/7 playable surface.”
The new look
Alter’s playing field is standard size for football and soccer. It also has an adjoining 80-yard practice field. But that sod couldn’t withstand the pounding it took from five soccer teams, the football squad, its peewee football program (grades 3-8) and in the spring and a developing lacrosse team.
The “Turf Project” would address three parts: Replacing the grass, resurfacing the track and replacing bleachers.
The turf is being provided by The Motz Group, whose revamped-stadium imprint is throughout southwest Ohio and elsewhere.
Bulldozers created an estimated 850 truckloads of dirt and gravel that were removed. The surfaces were leveled, then an inch of foam was laid. The carpet — or playing surface — was next. Sheep shears were used to cut out hash marks and field lines. Permanent inlays were added in those spots.
Finally, sand is spread out over the entire surface and small rubber particles are evenly added and patted down.
A new four-lane, all-weather synthetic running track will be added, as will handicapped accessible bleachers that will accommodate 675 spectators.
Bad weather has not hindered construction.
“The only good thing about all this heat,” said Alter maintenance worker Ken Tankersley on Wednesday, “is it’s been perfect weather for this project.”
Lights were installed at both fields five years ago. A new press box is on next year’s wish list. Ellis helped build the existing structure in 1983.
Can’t beat that
Ellis has lined both fields with chalk for 29 years. It takes 4-5 hours, multiple times each week.
“Now, me and the wife will have 20 extra hours a week to put up with each other,” he said.
He’ll still be in charge of “raking” the surfaces several times weekly. That consists of dragging the “rake” with a tractor and spraying a chemical that prevents MRSA staph infection. Ellis estimated that will take one hour.
Rather than crowned in the middle, the fields are level and equipped with drainage pipes every four feet. Those empty into larger drains that run the length of both sides of the fields. Barring unforeseen circumstances, the fields should be good for seven to 10 years or longer.
“There’s a lot of excitement from the returning students and lots of jealousy from graduates,” said Willits, laughing. “It’s a very positive thing and it’s created a lot of pride.”
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2381 or mpendleton@coxohio.com.
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