Poland eager to break in new turf

By ASHLEY LUTHERN

The stadium renovations are part of a $3 million plan to improve all district buildings.

POLAND — The first sport to be played on Poland’s newly turfed football field is called football, but not in the United States.

“The turf installation starts Aug. 1, and we’re going to cut it close, but we’re hoping to be done in time for Soccer Day on Aug. 15,” said Bob Richards, president of the Poland Bulldog Turf Club.

Soccer day is an annual event that kicks off the start of the Poland Youth Soccer Association season and features a parade of recreation teams, scrimmages between travel teams and night games for the boys and girls high school junior varsity and varsity squads. It’s also traditionally when the marching band gives its first performance of the school year.

“Soccer Day is close to 20 years old now and it’s a huge day for our organization anyway, but to be the first ones on the field makes it all the more special,” said Ken Conzett, president of PYSA.

If the field is not ready by the 15th, Soccer Day will be held at Baird Mitchell Field, the stadium behind Poland Middle School, he said.

The turf project cost $650,000 and will be funded by private donations, such as the $100,000 given by Boardman philanthropist Tony LaRiccia, whose only stipulation was that the field be renamed to Dave Pavlansky Field after the former high school football coach.

“At the first football game on Aug. 21, we will dedicate the field and the Pavlansky and LaRiccia families will be honored prior to kick-off,” Richards said.

The turf will enable the field to go from having a dozen events each year to 200 events, including junior varsity football and soccer games, and will allow the marching band to play even if it’s raining and to host its own band night, he said.

“This will truly be a multipurpose field,” Richards said.

The turf is the first phrase of renovations to the stadium. The second phrase will begin in late fall after the football season, but the bulk of construction will be in spring of 2009 during warm weather, and the $1.9 million cost will be covered by the school district, said Superintendent Dr. Robert Zorn.

Stadium improvements include adding 1,000 seats to the home side bleacher seats of which 20 will be handicapped-accessible, renovating the locker rooms, increasing concession equipment and adding a press box.

The stadium renovations are part of a larger $3 million plan to improve all of the school district’s buildings. Funding will be borrowed and paid back over an estimated 15 years, the superintendent said.

Initial demolition work started this week to convert the board of education’s offices at Union Elementary into classrooms for all-day kindergarten.

“Right now, they’re ripping up the carpet and doing demo work, but we won’t accept bids until the next meeting on July 29 and by the time constructions starts, the rooms won’t be ready until November,” said Zorn.

The board offices are in the process of being moved to the high school and that transition will be completed by fall, he said.

Improvements to McKinley, Dobbins and North Elementary schools will also be done by the start of school.

The remodeling of music rooms in McKinley and installation of foam sound pads in the Dobbins gymnasium began this week. North improvements that include renovating restrooms, repainting the gym and installing security doors have been completed, Zorn said.

The high school will have two classroom additions totaling $250,000 and a third classroom will be remodeled in time for the start of the school year. The improvements for the remodeled room will cost about $10,000, he said.