Schroeder High School’s existing baseball fields had major drainage problems. Teams were routinely unable to use the fields during the early spring season, forcing the high school to schedule games at other facilities. The fields required extensive time and money on a yearly basis. Additionally, poor design left no room for softball fields at the same facility.
To remedy this, the Webster Central School District’s 2018 Capital Improvement Program included the installation of new multi-purpose synthetic turf fields at Schroeder High School, thereby eliminating the high school’s drainage problems and issues with occupying the fields in the early spring.
The reconfigured turf design encompasses 4.5 total acres of turf; allows the space to be used more efficiently for baseball, softball, lacrosse, and soccer; and accommodates a full football field during the off season. The design also includes athletic amenities such as backstops, bullpens, batting cages, dugouts, bleachers, scoreboards, ball netting, and portable outfield fencing.
In addition, the track facility was upgraded from a cinder track to an asphalt track with rubberized surfacing. Multiple track events were upgraded, including long jump, triple jump, high jump, steeplechase, pole vault, shotput, discus, and hammer throw. A new natural grass sod field was also constructed on the interior of the track.
A large grandstand and press box were installed to improve the field seating capacity and provide live event broadcast capabilities. Stadium lighting was also installed to allow extended hours of play. Finally, an entrance area to the field complex featuring landscaping, a new storage building, and a restroom area was constructed.
Overall, the improved design provides Schroeder High School with the ability to host multiple games at the same time, a major scheduling upgrade. The installation of athletic field lighting also gives the high school the ability to host night games, further relieving their scheduling problems.
*This project was completed as part of the District’s 2018 Capital Improvement Program, which also included library renovations at multiple elementary, middle, and high schools within the District, and new multi-purpose synthetic turf fields at Thomas Webster High School.
