South Brunswick High School athletic teams and band members will have three artificial turf fields next year.
By Ed Birch, Special Writer
South Brunswick High School athletic teams and band members will have three artificial turf fields next year.
Board of Education members unanimously voted Monday night to approve the construction of the football and two multi-purpose artificial fields at the Ridge Road campus.
The project will also resurface the track, according to officials.
The Landtek Group of Amityville, New York won the bid for the project, which has an estimated cost of $3,570,000, according to officials.
”It was never the intention for South Brunswick High School students to be at a disadvantage based on opponent’s athletic fields,” said Superintendent Gary McCartney, in pointing out that South Brunswick is one of two high school fields in the area with natural grass playing surfaces.
The project will be funded by the Capital Budget, and is being made possible by re-financing prior bonds issues, savings by the district changing health care providers, and a $1 million dollar savings as the results of energy conservation by board officials.
”Wow, I certainly like the sound of the term turf field,” said high school Athletic Director Elaine McGrath.
The Landtek Group is the leader in turf athletic fields, according to the company’s website.
According to the company, projects that they have completed include the New York Mets Citifield, Rutgers Stadium, Temple and Seton Hall universities, Red Bulls Stadium in Harrison, the Don Bosco Football Complex in northern New Jersey, and locally, Monroe Township, J.P. Stevens and Ewing High School fields.
Company officials said they are also contracted to build fields in Woodbridge and Point Pleasant.
”Groundbreaking will be taking place in May, and barring construction delays, the football team will be opening its season on the new field,” said Business Manager Anthony Tonzini.
The Sales Representative for Landtek is former New York Jets star player, Marty Lyons.
As part of the capital budget, the construction funding will not cause an impact on the local school tax rate, board members said.
The board recently adopted a $140 million budget that will have a 3-cent per $100 of valuation increase.
That increase would mean an additional $60 this year for the owner of a home assessed at $200,000.

