Seeking an upgrade, Nampa high schools install turf fields

NAMPA — High school fields are seeing an upgrade this summer in the Nampa School District, readying them for fall sports.

The district’s three high schools are each having turf installed at their stadiums, replacing the previous grass fields. The combined cost of $1.5 million will be funded by the district’s 2023 levy.

Some community members have questioned the use of funds by a struggling district. Concerns have been voiced after a year of cost-saving measures by the district that have included, among other things, closing four schools. However, the turf installation was already earmarked by the 2023 levy, prior to budget cuts.

“Turf is not for high school football,” Nampa resident Dale Nordstrom Jr. said at a July 16 school board meeting. “I know that it costs a lot of money to do it. So, to me there’s a lot of money being spent, that I think should not have been spent.”

Matt Sizemore, NSD communications director, noted that the 2023 levy passed with over 55% support from voters. In the levy’s promotion, using funds for turf was detailed.

Sizemore said that turf will have a long-term cost benefit, as it doesn’t require the constant maintenance that grass does. It can also withstand weather that a grass field would be damaged by.

“If a football game is held on a rainy night and a soccer team needs to use it the next day, they won’t need to worry about mud pits and streaks or huge sections of grass being kicked up all over the field,” Sizemore wrote.

Sizemore said turf also eliminates the risk of uneven fields.

“We want our students to step on to something they can be proud of and leave our parents in awe as they take the stands to see their kids in action,” he wrote.

Columbia High School Athletic Director Todd Cady said coaches and students have been excited about adding turf.

“I think there’s a misperception of the district pouring this money into fields rather than investing in education, and I think those are just misconceptions,” he said.

Columbia’s field will be used for several extracurriculars, including football, soccer, marching band and dance. Cady said the school’s physical education teachers are also eager to use the field during classes.

Depending on the time of year, the grass fields see a lot of wear and required time-consuming and costly maintenance.

“By the end of the school year, the grass is really beat up,” Cady said.

Maintaining turf will be easier considering the efforts to water, aerate, weed and paint lines on a grass field.

Cady said the turf will set Nampa high schools apart from others. According to Cady, Bishop Kelly High School in Boise is the only area school that competes in Idaho’s 5A classification that has a turf field. That will change when Columbia’s teams take the field next month.

“There’s definitely a level of excitement,” he said. “There’s probably a little bit of anxiety as well, as just something new.”

As for safety concerns, Cady said the district has done its own research. In its report, the district was unable to find a notable difference between turf and grass.

Sizemore said that studies have conflicting results as to whether grass is safer than turf. The district does not expect an increased risk for injuries.

Columbia’s separate soccer fields have previously been difficult to maintain. Cady said weather largely affected their ability to use the field. After wear from playing or a big rain, the field wasn’t usable.

“We’re excited that it’s not only going to be football anymore,” Cady said. “The boys and girls soccer teams will also be using the facility to play all their home games and to work in practices.”

At Skyview High School, soccer players will also get to play on the new turf.

Skyview Athletic Director Eric Bonds said the grass field was in decent shape, but always needed seasonal upkeep. He said he is excited for the upgraded field.

“We play football and soccer in our stadium,” Bond said. “So there were weeks where we had anywhere between seven to nine events in one week.”

Bond noted that the turf has additional padding and rubber underneath, providing a safety cushion.

Whether the high school athletes prefer turf — Bond said they will have to play on it to know.

“We never had turf,” Bond said. “With the research I’ve done, I think both have benefits.”