Club organizes to raise funds for artificial turf

This group is similar to
others that raise money for
athletic facilities.

POLAND — A new group has formed to raise money for artificial turf at Poland Seminary High School’s football field.

The school board authorized the Bulldog Turf Club on Monday as the official fundraiser for the new turf, contingent on the group’s meeting all legal requirements for a nonprofit, fund-raising organization.

The club is an independent organization of Poland residents who are going to solicit donations to replace the natural grass on the field, said Mark Naples, vice chairman.

The group will hear from three companies that provide turf at its meeting in January, said Jeff Vrabel, the group’s secretary.

The Bulldog Turf Club is like other groups that have sprung up to raise money for athletic facilities at their school districts.

In Canfield, the Nest Builders have raised money for new turf, seating and a bandshell at Cardinal Stadium.

In Austintown, Falcon Forward is raising money for improvements.

Naples said the only improvement the Bulldog club plans is the field.

The field will get more use with artifical turf, he said. The band and soccer, baseball and softball teams will be able to use it, he and Vrabel said.

“We could even host playoff games,” Vrabel said.

Naples said the group’s goal is to raise between $500,000 and $650,000.

It hopes to have the field in place by next fall, he and Vrabel told the board.

But if the group has not raised $200,000 by February, Naples said, it will abandon the effort.