Football field will see improvements

Published 9:44 am Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Dr. Cecil Snead

Buckingham County High School’s football field is set to see improvements.

According to High School Athletic Director Dr. Jeffrey Garrett, the county’s school board recently agreed to allow the athletic department to improve the grass portion of the football field.

Garrett said the primary renovation will include changing the type of grass on the field.

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“Right now, we’re looking at converting (the grass) to Bermuda (35),” said Garrett. “It’s a warm-season grass. It typically will heal itself, like the grass on a golf course.”

Division Superintendent Dr. Cecil Snead said the time has come for change.

“Our athletic department and administration in the high school have been in discussion with our facilities committee,” said Snead. “They began to see a need for improvements on the football field because the cool-weather grasses have been difficult to keep maintained.”

Snead said the facilities committee worked out different options with the athletic department and the high school to understand what would be the safest surface for the student-athletes to play on.

After research, Snead said, the facilities committee and athletics department determined warm-season grass would look more aesthetically pleasing during the warmer months and would make for a smoother playing field.

Joshua Wallace, the head varsity football coach, said the smoother playing field would hopefully make for a safer surface for the players.

John Wallace

“It’s good for our players to be able to play on a good surface,” Wallace said. “If it’s done right, a good field can reduce injuries at times.”

The $9,700 project is expected to be completed in time for the fall season.

“I’m ecstatic about it,” Wallace said. “It shows a lot about the administration and the school board and their support for the students here and the student athletes.”