A new era begins Thursday for Rice Memorial High School.
The private Catholic school in South Burlington will unveil its recently installed artificial turf field prior to christening it when the undefeated Green Knights' field hockey team hosts Essex.
"It opens up everything for our student-athletes. Rice is already one of the best high school preparatory schools for college," Rice athletic director Neil Brodeur said. "Now kids can not only get one of the best educations in Vermont, they can start playing on some of the best venues in Vermont, too. It’s going to affect so many of our kids."
The ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 3:45 p.m. The field hockey contest will start at 4.
More: Rice field hockey scores revenge against South Burlington in title rematch
Details on Rice's new artificial turf field
Construction began this summer on a 78,500 square foot multi-purpose turf field, which will be used to host games for the school's football, soccer, field hockey programs in the fall and lacrosse and Ultimate in the spring, in addition to other school events. The space will also allow Rice's other teams the ability to use it for practice time.
Rice hired FieldTurf to install its new synthetic grass playing surface. The project was raised through private fundraising, according to Rice principal Andy Nagy, who declined to reveal the funds raised or the project's total costs when asked in an email Tuesday afternoon.
The field's new name is: John P. Larkin Turf at Bill Landers Field. Larkin's family are key donors for the project, Nagy said. Larkin was also a big supporter of Rice before his death in 2013.
During construction, Rice also removed its decades-old concrete bleachers and stone-filled track oval. Brodeur said new, 900-seat bleachers will be added next spring. For now, spectators will need to bring their own chairs or stand along the sidelines during home games for soccer, field hockey and football.
Adding lights are currently not in Rice's plans, Brodeur said.
Discussions for installing a new track are in the early stages and are part of the school's next phase of the project, Brodeur said. Without a track for now, track and field athletes will have access to the new turf field, other locations on campus and soccer's previous home, Hauke Field, to prepare and practice for spring meets.
"There is a lot of momentum and a lot of good feeling at Rice right now and we want to keep things going," Brodeur said. "We want to give our cross-country and track and field kids a place to practice and hold track meets. Out of items in Phase II, that would be at the top of the list."
Rice has ambitious plans for future phases of project
According to the school, the turf field is the first phase of a bigger strategic plan to expand the school's offerings and upgrade facilities. Future phases include the aforementioned track, tennis courts, bathrooms, new floor and bleachers inside Bill Hammond Gym and a performing arts center.
"That’s the overall vision and hope for Rice," Brodeur said. "Those things are on the wish list. Nothing has been solidified and we have not submitted plans to the bishop yet for the next phases."
How many high schools in Vermont have artificial turf fields?
The addition of Rice's new playing surface pushes the total number of artificial turf fields at Vermont high schools to six.
Burlington, Burr and Burton, Rutland, St. Johnsbury and South Burlington all have existing turf fields. Prior to the completion of Rice's turf, St. Johnsbury's was the most recently one installed, opening in the fall 2021 . Burlington's facility is currently going through renovation upgrades and set to reopen next month.
If you go: Rice's ribbon-cutting ceremony for artificial turf field
When: Thursday, Sept. 26, 3:45 p.m. (prior to the Rice vs. Essex field hockey game at 4).
Where: Rice Memorial High School (99 Proctor Ave. South Burlington).
Other games this week? Rice will also host games Friday (boys soccer) and Saturday (girls soccer, football) on its new turf field.
Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter: @aabrami5 .
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: 'Opens up everything for our student-athletes': Rice to unveil new artificial turf field
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