Hempfield Area to replace football field, resurface track

Officials with the Hempfield Area School District are moving forward with a more than $800,000 project to replace the track and artificial turf at the high school stadium.

Work on the project, approved unanimously by school board members during Monday’s meeting, will begin immediately following graduation, which is scheduled for June 4. The project will be completed prior to the start of the fall athletic season, according to athletic director Brandon Rapp.

In all, the project will cost more than $832,500. Of that, almost $400,000 will go toward resurfacing the synthetic running track and repairing the base of the track as needed. That part of the project will be completed by New Jersey-based ATT Sports Inc.

According to Rapp, it has been about 20 years since the track was resurfaced.

“Due to the longevity and the wear and tear of that facility, we were able to send out (requests for proposals) and issue the specifications that we feel are satisfactory, and I think, with what you see, we’ll have a great product for the students and the use of the community in that facility,” Rapp said.

The board also voted to spend almost $433,000 to replace the artificial turf at Spartan Stadium plus base repair. That will be completed by Georgia-based Shaw Sports Turf.

Rapp noted the field has exceeded its life expectancy.

“We’re very satisfied with that process and are very excited to see both of these projects move forward for everybody that uses that facility,” Rapp said.

Board members tabled a vote to mill and pave the asphalt perimeter of Spartan Stadium. The project, if approved, would be completed by ATT Sports Inc. for more than $75,000.