Student-athletes at private preparatory school Fort Worth Country Day (FWCD) will soon see significant improvements to their campus after the district broke ground late last month on a $3.5 million state-of-the-art athletic field.
The school’s new athletic field is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2022 and is the most significant improvement in the school’s 59-year history. The athletic field was funded by 21 FWCD donors and will feature international-caliber surfaces and technologies rivaled by no other high school in North Texas, the FWCD said in a news release.
FWCD is the oldest co-ed college-preparatory school in Fort Worth, and according to its head, Eric Lombardi, it is long overdue for renovations. The remodel will benefit student-athletes who compete in field hockey, football, lacrosse, track and field, and soccer.
“Our track and turf fields improvement project is truly game-changing for FWCD athletics,” said Lombardi. “No more rainouts because of saturated fields, no more worries about wear-and-tear during practices or competition.
“My top priority, however, is to ensure that FWCD student-athletes are able to pursue their athletic interests on safe fields and surfaces that offer the highest level of standards for competitive sports. Calling this project ‘transformative’ would be an understatement.”
The water-based turf surface, manufactured by SporTurf, uses a water cannon irrigation system, allowing FWCD to “weather the field” before games and practices. The field will be completely flat with no crown, enabling field hockey players to maximize speed and performance.
FWCD will be the first school in DFW and the third in Texas to implement this new, water-based surface field technology.
PowerBlade, a fiber-based surface field technology manufactured by Shaw Sports Turf, will replace FWCD’s existing grass-surfaced field at Rosacker Stadium.
Constructed out of advanced monofilament fibers, the PowerBlade turf system will combine natural grass’s softness and appearance with the engineered performance of modern synthetic turf. This will increase shock absorption and cool the field’s temperature by using a coconut-based Geofill infill system that makes it resistant to mold, mildew, and salts.
Finally, the school’s Barrett Havran Track will feature the PTS 4000 paved-in-place system made by Paragon Track Surfaces. The base mat will be sealed with two-component polyurethane to create an entirely impermeable surface, according to the news release.
The surface provides a spike-resistant stable system that maximizes performance for multiple purposes, including high-level track meets, PE, and off-season workouts. The new track will also incorporate a steeplechase pit, two in-field shot put sectors, and colored exchange zones for relays.
Paragon Sports Constructors, a Fort Worth-based leader in Texas sports construction, is serving as FWCD’s design/build project partner.
