Less than 10 years after they were originally installed, the West Windsor-Plainsboro School District is looking to replace the synthetic turf fields at both high schools.
Earlier this month, NJ Advance Media ran series of articles titled “The 100-Yard Deception” that alleged that FieldTurf, the company that manufactured the synthetic turf fields sold to WW-P (and many other school districts throughout the country) were deteriorating before the warranty runs out.
The report said that FieldTurf executives knew about defects in the product as early as 2006, but continued to sell it and tout its durability.
The NJAM report also stated that the conditions of the fields at both high schools are among the worst in New Jersey. The product the turf fields are made from, called Duraspine, was discontinued in 2012. Some 150 fields made from Duraspine were installed in New Jersey before the product was discontinued, the report said.
But despite some general unhappiness with the current worn state of the fields, WW-P school officials interviewed by the News indicate that they are generally satisfied that they got what they expected out the fields, and that the planned field replacements are within the expected timeline.
In 2007, the district awarded a $2.38 million contract to install the two synthetic fields, plus a new track at South. The eight-year warranties expired in 2015.
Although the district’s Duraspine fields are deteriorating and due for replacement, school board Vice President Michele Kaish, who is also chair of the Administration and Facilities Committee, said they’ve outlasted their warranty period, which was all the district expected.
“The life expectancy was always something like 10 years. I think we got our money’s worth. My sense is generally you want the field to last as long as the warranty. Anything you get after that, you’re happy about,” she said.
Kaish said the district has discussed replacing the synthetic fields within the next year or two. With excavation work already completed during the initial installation, Kaish estimates that the purchase and installation would cost about $1.5 million, or $750,000 per field.
Kaish said the WW-P school board is not considering legal action at the current time.
District spokesperson Gerri Hutner also affirmed that the expectation for turf fields is 10 years of normal wear and tear before needing to be replaced.
She also indicated that overall, the turf fields are still more cost effective than maintaining live grass fields over an extended period.
‘The life expectancy was always something like 10 years. I think we got our money’s worth.’ –Michele Kaish, school board member
“The benefits include the ability to play in all weather, and the reduction of labor on the fields themselves is a significant advantage,” Hutner said in an email. “These more durable fields also allow a great deal of use by local recreation programs, which would not be possible if we were trying to ‘save’ the (grass) fields to be playable for athletics.”
Hutner also noted that multiple sports use the turf field.
According to FieldTurf’s website, there are three main components to a turf system —fiber, backing and infill. The fibers have a natural, grass-like look and feel and are made from polyethylene.
The infill is made up of small synthetic pellets which both support the “grass” fibers and also act to provide traction and absorb impact. The artificial turf backings are comprised of a primary backing and a secondary backing. Both the primary and secondary backings work together to provide dimensional stability to the entire system.
South football coach Skip Edwards, who joined the program in 2013, said he sees numerous issues with the current synthetic field, and has for a while. “Sure, it’s gotten more worn down, but I didn’t think it was a good turf field to begin with,” Edwards said. “It’s almost like you’re looking at an ice rink, like it’s got a slick look to it. There’s supposed to be grass fibers sticking up. During heavy rain, the pellets have a tendency to mat up. That shouldn’t happen — the water should drain. I don’t think that’s normal wear and tear. I’m not a professional, I can only go by what I see.”
Edwards did praise the grounds crew for their efforts in maintaining the fields. “You can tell right away when they have combed the field,” Edwards said. “The grass rises a little bit and the pellets get embedded into the grass. But it doesn’t last long.”
One reason for the field’s current condition is the heavy use by several varsity teams. “When you get turf, everyone wants to play on it. It’s faster, it’s level,” Edwards said.
The field at North is in the middle of its ninth year and looking worse for the wear. North boys’ soccer coach Trevor Warner says there are large amounts of black pebbles rising to the surface.
“The black pebbles are not evenly distributed, it almost looks like rain puddles on the road,” Warner said.
Warner said he does consider the synthetic fields a significant upgrade over grass, though. Before the turf was installed, only varsity football used the stadium field. Afterward, the football team was joined by the soccer, lacrosse and field hockey teams in using the field.
“It’s flat and more consistent. Our old grass field was literally pitched in one direction. Even in its worst condition, the turf field is better than the grass,” Warner said.
Princeton High School was the first in Mercer County to install turf fields, followed by WW-P and Ewing, who also chose FieldTurf. In the past few years, Hopewell Valley, Robbinsville, Hightstown and Lawrence have installed turf fields as well.
Although there may yet prove to be claims that FieldTurf deceived people about the durability of their fields, the district doesn’t appear to be concerned about the prospect of replacing the turf fields in the next few years.
“In the beginning it was made clear that it was 10 to 12 years and that it would need to be replaced,” Warner said.
“We were told that once in a while there would be a grooming of the field to keep the filaments — the grass blades — upright and playing more true. Lately it was looking so bad that they were trying to make it look better with more grooming,” he said.
Soccer players dig up the turf field during a game this season at West Windsor Plainsboro North High School.,
