Kentridge and Kentwood high schools are scheduled to receive brand new tracks, synthetic football fields and lights as outlined in the recently reallocated 2006 bond.
The estimated cost to build new tracks and new fields with lights for Kentwood and Kentridge is about $7.1 million, according to Kent School District documents.
“We’re coming into the 21st Century, finally,” exclaimed school district athletic director David Lutes.
The school board approved at its Feb. 13 meeting the reallocation of a $15.9 million bond intended to partly fund the building of the new Covington Elementary School. Instead the bond was broken up into 14 district-wide recommended projects. Two of those projects include new tracks, synthetic fields and lights for both high schools.
According to Lutes, the modernization of these fields will closely resemble Kentlake High School’s current field, whose track was recoated and field resurfaced last summer for $1.1 million.
The two-year project will begin with Kentwood replacing its track and field this summer. Kentridge will begin renovations the following summer due to city of Kent permitting issues that would delay the process. With the new synthetic fields, the facilities will be able to be utilized throughout the year as opposed to the current grass fields at the schools.
Until now, Kentwood and Kentridge, along with Kent Meridian, used the synthetic turf at French Field for practices and games, which was upgraded four years ago said Ralph Fortunado, director of fiscal services for the district. The building of the new fields allows Kent Meridian to better utilize French Field for practice purposes.
Kentwood and Kentridge junior varsity and freshman football teams and all varsity and junior varsity boys and girls soccer teams’ games and practices will be moved to their home sites. All varsity football games will continue to be played at French Field.
“It’s good for the sports teams and school as well as the community,” Fortunado said.
The city of Kent and Kent School District have a shared use agreement which states that both parties are able to use certain facilities depending on cost and availability. According to Lutes, when the new fields and tracks are built, the agreement will stand in reference to the new facilities as well.
“The best use of money is when the city and school district work together,” Lutes said.
In 2009, city officials considered converting Kent Meridian and possibly Kentridge’s fields to synthetic turf in an effort to replace the Commons Playfields that closed to build the ShoWare Center. But due to lack of funds, the city formulated short-term and a long-term strategies to offset the loss of Commons Playfields.
Jeff Watling, city director of parks, recreation and community services, said the short-term strategy for replacing the fields was to maximize existing spaces through partnerships and scheduling, relying, in part, on the reciprocal agreement with the school district. The long-term strategy included creating multi-use synthetic turf facilities, like redeveloping Kent Meridian’s fields, when funds become available.
When asked whether or not the city will directly replace the 11-acre Commons Playfields, Watling said, “that would not be our first approach” for financial reasons.
Voters rejected a six-year property tax levy proposed by the city in November that would have helped fund repairs and renovations to city streets and parks. Although the city promised to replace the Commons Playfields, no timeline has been set and no new projects have been proposed in this year’s budget.
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