Fremd set to get new turf next week

Students at Fremd High School will find out next week if the artificial turf is really greener on their side of the fence.

Fremd's new stadium playing surface should be ready on Monday afternoon, Sept. 29, for physical education classes to test out, Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 officials said Friday. The school's marching band is also slated to try the field out Monday.

School officials say artificial turf will allow increased use of the stadium, as the field won't be susceptible to mud.

"We're going to use it as much as possible," said Fremd Assistant Principal Eric Dolen.

Friday, crews were laying down rubber infill pellets, Dolen said. District 211 school board Vice President Lynn Davis noted that the infill is made of biodegradable materials.

There are many artificial turf manufacturers who tout that their products are advanced and won't cause the injuries athletes have suffered in the past landing awkwardly or having a cleat caught on a seam while playing on older, carpet-style surfaces.

District 211 officials selected Sportexe turf. The Texas company's clients include the NFL's New Orleans Saints and Baltimore Ravens.

The project also includes a new track around the field. That hasn't been finished quite yet. Since track is a spring sport, "there's no rush," District 211 spokesman Tom Petersen said.

Earlier this year, the school board approved stadium renovations at all five high schools, costing about $8.7 million. Fremd and Schaumburg High were first in line for the projects, with the remaining three schools scheduled sometime in 2009.

There are no plans for a giant video screen on the scoreboard like the one featured at Barrington High School's new stadium. That display cost $143,000, raised through private funds.

Schaumburg's turf project is moving forward, despite a delay from a construction mishap in which part of the surface collapsed under the weight of a cement-mixer carrying a heavy load, damaging a drainage pipe below. This month's heavy rains also prevented weekend work on Sept. 13 and 14.

Schaumburg's field was supposed to ready before the scheduled homecoming game against Fremd Friday. Instead, Schaumburg moved its homecoming game to Oct. 17 against Conant High. Homecoming week also now coincides with college-entrance testing scheduled for Oct. 15.

"We're working through it," Schaumburg Assistant Principal Shayne Bullen said.