High School Turf Field Installation Down to the Wire

Haddonfield school Superintendent Richard Perry said Friday he expects a new artificial-turf field to be installed and ready to go by the Bulldawgs season-opening football game on Sept. 12.

Perry is still optimistic even though the 120-yard long field only had a foundation layer of slate stones on Thursday. 

Perry said a rainy summer has delayed the completion of the $1 million project to install turf on the high-school stadium field and an adjacent, smaller practice area, known as Anniversary Field.

The turf is installed on Anniversary Field and the football team was making ample use of it this week. The field buzzed with activity, flying footballs, line drills and other activity with pop music blaring in the background.

The turf project was largely paid for with private funds from a community fundraising effort. Over $600,000 was contributed toward the cost. The borough and school board paid the balance of the total. But the turf issue was a wedge issue in a local municipal election in May. Two new members were elected to borough's three-member Board of Commissioners in a six-candidate race that saw one incumbent, Ed Borden, turned away.

Supporters of the turf project say it was needed to improve rundown scholastic and community athletic fields. Opponents objected to the cost and environmental impact.