On Monday, July 7, Sedona Red Rock High Athletic Director John Parks and Pinnacle One Project Manager Dave Young announced the re-opening of the newly completed football field and track project to the public.
“We are excited to inform the public that our refurbished football field and track project is now complete and open for use,” Parks said.
The finished $1.6 million product at SRRHS is only one part of a three-phase project using the $73.4 million bond fund approved last year by voters within the Sedona Oakcreek School District.
By Brian Bergner Jr.
Larson Newspapers
On Monday, July 7, Sedona Red Rock High Athletic Director John Parks and Pinnacle One Project Manager Dave Young announced the re-opening of the newly completed football field and track project to the public.
“We are excited to inform the public that our refurbished football field and track project is now complete and open for use,” Parks said.
The finished $1.6 million product at SRRHS is only one part of a three-phase project using the $73.4 million bond fund approved last year by voters within the Sedona Oakcreek School District.
After complete destruction of the old field starting in March, a new drainage system was installed beneath the field, with a capacity to drain up to 20 inches of water per hour.
On top of the drainage system lie 4,600 tons of stone, with the football playing surface laid over the top.
Ten pounds per square foot of white sand and black tire particles were laid down over 80,000 square feet of turf to equal 800,000 pounds of material.
The new field will play host to Friday-night football and soccer games for the Scorpions. Many other events will be held on the field
as well.
All field lines are permanent and will not need to be re-painted, as the artificial grass also comes in white for football and yellow for soccer.
Placed around a field, which seems like something from the future, is a state-of-the-art Atlas Track surface matching the color of the red rocks, of course.
In addition to the field and the track, a dedicated shot put, discus, long jump, triple jump, high jump and pole vault area now enables SRRHS to host track and field events.
Lastly, a fence around the entire area, and a separate one around the field have been added for optimal crowd control.
So why do this? Why spend all this money for a school so small? Young has the answer.
“Some of the intangibles are the ability to now host regional, state and national events. It’s a first-rate facility that is usable all year ’round to the public and high school,” Young said.
The field has a warranty for up to eight years, but is expected to last anywhere from 10 to 12 years. A giant, comb-like rake is used for field maintenance.
Another positive this project brings would be a savings of up to $15,000 a year on water, fertilizer, grass seed, mowing, track and field striping and maintenance costs.
“The money we can spend cannot be used for classrooms, but the money we save from these types of projects can,” Young said.
Brian Bergner Jr. can be reached at 282-7795, Ext.131,
or e-mail bbergner@larsonnewspapers.com
