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Eastchester To Hold Community Meetings On $1.9 Million Turf Field Bond

EASTCHESTER, N.Y. – The Eastchester School District will continue discussing a near $2 million bond to replace the high school’s artificial turf field at a series of community bond meetings.

While the Eastchester turf field is closed, the track around it remains open.

While the Eastchester turf field is closed, the track around it remains open.

Photo Credit: File

At its last meeting, the Board of Education voted to move forward with a bond referendum that will cost nearly $1.9 million to install a new synthetic turf field to replace the outdated track that was closed in September following concerns about exposed seams and worn surfaces.

According to Superintendent Walter Moran, the district estimates it will cost taxpayers approximately $30 per year over 15 years for a home with an average assessment of $10,000.

“Moving at this time to address these facilities and maintenance needs provides the best opportunity to reclaim the turf field for use by school and community athletic groups by next fall,” he said. “The repointing work, predominantly on the east-facing side of the buildings will make the buildings water tight, which will stop the deterioration of the interior space.”

The field is used daily by school physical education classes and during recess. After school, the district’s football and soccer teams practice on the field in the fall, and the lacrosse team plays its games on the field in the spring. If voters approve it, the field will be developed and is likely to be open near the beginning of the next school year.

Moran said that the turf field is past its life expectancy. Similar fields typically last between eight and 10 years. Eastchester installed this field in 2002. In recent years, the district has found short-term solutions for problems related to the field. Moran said that at this point, it is important to find a more permanent answer for the turf field.

“Since it was installed in 2002, the turf athletic field has served the district and community well,” Moran said. “It has been a source of pride and a tremendous resource for many different organizations during those 11 years. The turf field is also used throughout much of the school year for classes and middle school recess.”

There will be informative meetings for the public at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12 and from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 20 in the middle school cafeteria. The bond vote will be held from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 12. Voters can cast their choice in the high school gym or the Garth Community Room.

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