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UPublish story by erica
POSTED: 04:44 p.m. EDT, Apr 21, 2009
The field conditions at Uniontown Lake High School’s Blue Streak Stadium were once so poor that students were forced to use the gym for all their physical education activities. Its formerly pristine field was deteriorating from overuse, so community members banded together to raise money for a synthetic turf field. Their efforts were so successful that Lake High School is now being recognized as a National Finalist in the Search for the Real Field of Dreams. The national contest, conducted by the Synthetic Turf Council (STC), searched the country for the high school with the most compelling story behind its synthetic turf field.
Lake High School’s story is an inspirational example of the power of community. Seeing the tremendous need for a reliable playing surface, a private group of local residents formed a fundraising committee for a synthetic turf field. Through their hard work and the dedication of Uniontown’s citizens, the field was paid for entirely through community donations and installed. Since the field’s August 2008 installation, more events, practices and activities have taken place on it than in the past seven years combined. It serves as an inspiration to athletes, students, parents and fans to “dream big” and to see the tremendous impact of a community that works together.
“This field was the result of a true grass roots effort in which the community raised all of the money,” said Bruce Brown, Athletic Director at Lake High School. “Individuals and small businesses, elderly people and students all pulled together to raise the funds needed. We now have a very viable, practical and useful source of pride for the entire community.”
Uniontown Lake High School is one of 10 high schools recognized from across the country after sharing stories of how synthetic turf impacted their students, athletes and entire communities. Other winners in the Search for the Real Field of Dreams included Grand Prize Winner Salesian High School in Richmond, Calif., First Runner-Up Junction City High School in Junction City, Kan. and seven remaining National Finalists: Germantown High School, Philadelphia, Pa.; Oak Hills High School, Cincinnati, Ohio; Rutland High School, Rutland, Vt.; Virginia City High School, Virginia City, Nev.; Walton-Verona High School, Walton, Ky.; Wyoming City Schools, Cincinnati, Ohio; and Zanesville High School, Zanesville, Ohio.
On the eve of Earth Day, it has become apparent that all the winning schools have made a positive impact on the environment. A typical synthetic turf sports field reduces annual water consumption by at least 500,000 gallons, eliminates the need for thousands of pounds of fertilizer and pesticides yearly, and uses 25,000 recycled tires that would otherwise end up in landfills.
Judges for the Search include Bob Vecchione from the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, Christine Sima of Parks and Rec Business and Christine Bolger of the National Association of Sports & Physical Education.
About the Synthetic Turf Council:
Based in Atlanta, the Synthetic Turf Council was founded in 2003 to promote the industry and to assist buyers and end users with the selection, use and maintenance of synthetic turf systems in sports field, golf, municipal parks, airports, landscape and residential applications. The organization is also a resource for current, credible, and independent research on the safety and environmental impact of synthetic turf. Membership includes builders, landscape architects, testing labs, maintenance providers, manufacturers, suppliers, installation contractors, infill material suppliers and other specialty service companies. For more information, visit www.syntheticturfcouncil.org.
The field conditions at Uniontown Lake High School’s Blue Streak Stadium were once so poor that students were forced to use the gym for all their physical education activities. Its formerly pristine field was deteriorating from overuse, so community members banded together to raise money for a synthetic turf field. Their efforts were so successful that Lake High School is now being recognized as a National Finalist in the Search for the Real Field of Dreams. The national contest, conducted by the Synthetic Turf Council (STC), searched the country for the high school with the most compelling story behind its synthetic turf field.
Lake High School’s story is an inspirational example of the power of community. Seeing the tremendous need for a reliable playing surface, a private group of local residents formed a fundraising committee for a synthetic turf field. Through their hard work and the dedication of Uniontown’s citizens, the field was paid for entirely through community donations and installed. Since the field’s August 2008 installation, more events, practices and activities have taken place on it than in the past seven years combined. It serves as an inspiration to athletes, students, parents and fans to “dream big” and to see the tremendous impact of a community that works together.
“This field was the result of a true grass roots effort in which the community raised all of the money,” said Bruce Brown, Athletic Director at Lake High School. “Individuals and small businesses, elderly people and students all pulled together to raise the funds needed. We now have a very viable, practical and useful source of pride for the entire community.”
Uniontown Lake High School is one of 10 high schools recognized from across the country after sharing stories of how synthetic turf impacted their students, athletes and entire communities. Other winners in the Search for the Real Field of Dreams included Grand Prize Winner Salesian High School in Richmond, Calif., First Runner-Up Junction City High School in Junction City, Kan. and seven remaining National Finalists: Germantown High School, Philadelphia, Pa.; Oak Hills High School, Cincinnati, Ohio; Rutland High School, Rutland, Vt.; Virginia City High School, Virginia City, Nev.; Walton-Verona High School, Walton, Ky.; Wyoming City Schools, Cincinnati, Ohio; and Zanesville High School, Zanesville, Ohio.
On the eve of Earth Day, it has become apparent that all the winning schools have made a positive impact on the environment. A typical synthetic turf sports field reduces annual water consumption by at least 500,000 gallons, eliminates the need for thousands of pounds of fertilizer and pesticides yearly, and uses 25,000 recycled tires that would otherwise end up in landfills.
Judges for the Search include Bob Vecchione from the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, Christine Sima of Parks and Rec Business and Christine Bolger of the National Association of Sports & Physical Education.
About the Synthetic Turf Council:
Based in Atlanta, the Synthetic Turf Council was founded in 2003 to promote the industry and to assist buyers and end users with the selection, use and maintenance of synthetic turf systems in sports field, golf, municipal parks, airports, landscape and residential applications. The organization is also a resource for current, credible, and independent research on the safety and environmental impact of synthetic turf. Membership includes builders, landscape architects, testing labs, maintenance providers, manufacturers, suppliers, installation contractors, infill material suppliers and other specialty service companies. For more information, visit www.syntheticturfcouncil.org.
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