EPISD To Replace Grass With Artificial Turf
EL PASO — Board of trustees with the El Paso Independent School Board have approved installing artificial turf for the district’s ten athletic fields, ABC 7 has learned.
The installations will occurover a three-year period,district spokesman Luis Villalobos indicated in a news release.
The athletic fields are primarily used bystudents for football and soccer. The first installations will be at Andress High School, Burges High School, and Coronado High School, officials said.The three initial fields will cost $2.1 million to construct.
“We did extensive research and found that artificial turf is the best solution for safety, water conservation, maintenance, and long-term use. We’re delighted that the district was able to find a financing option to install the artificial turf that will not result in a tax increase,” said Rick Hernandez, chair of EPISD’s Athletic Facilities Committee.
Studies show that artificial turf results in a safer playing field due to the natural wear and tear of grass annually during the football and soccer seasons, district officials said.
Fields made of artificial turf last between 10 and 15 years and could save more than80 million gallons of water annually, saving the cost of watering, mowing and re-seeding, and other maintenance, EPISD said.
