Batavia Artificial Turf and Field Improvements Might Cost $13 Million

Batavia School District 101 might have to spend as much as $13 million to build an artificial turf field and keep sports and extracurricular practices on the school campus, the Daily Herald reports.

The district had talked about taking land from Mooseheart and using elementary schools for practice fields, but Batavia Buildings and Grounds Director Pat Browne told the Batavia School Board at last week's meeting that a committee of school officials, parents and boosters would prefer to keep practice on campus.

The plan calls for eliminating the arboretum on the southwest corner of the school campus, the Daily Herald said.

A Chicago Tribune article said no funding has been secured for the project, although the committee did present an architect's rendering of the new fields.

An artificial-turf field would be located on the southeast side of the stadium, and a detention pond would be put underground, the Daily Herald reported.

Nearby Geneva School District 304 made an artificial turf investment, which culminated in a finished Burgess Field in time for the 2012-13 fall sports season. However, Geneva received a $450,000 gift from an anonymous donor and paid $1.1 million total for the work that included an upgrade of the school track.

The advantage of artificial turf is cost savings over time, because of reduced maintenance cost. Also, multiple sports teams and bands can practice on the artificial turf without damaging the surface.

Here's What Happened in Geneva

• Part 1 in Series: Boosters Seek $500K to 'Rebuild Burgess Field'
• Anonymous Donor Gives $450K for Burgess Field Improvements
• District 304 Accepts 'Secret Santa' Donation for Burgess Field Turf
• Geneva School Board Defers Action on Burgess Field
• Burgess Field Work Begins; Follow Progress With Online 'Construction Cam'
• 8 Essays: A Case Against Artificial Turf in Geneva
• Burgess Field Ready to Go for Fall Season