News Summary
The Greenville County Schools Board of Trustees has announced a plan to convert all 15 high school football fields from grass to artificial turf, a move expected to cost $24 million. This transition, which is set to begin after the football season in November 2025, aims to enhance the quality and safety of athletic facilities while reducing maintenance costs. Despite concerns over player safety and environmental impact, the board believes this change will accommodate growing sports demands in the area.
Greenville County Schools to Transform High School Athletic Fields
Big news for sports lovers in Greenville! The Greenville County Schools Board of Trustees held a meeting on January 15, 2025, and they announced an exciting plan. They have decided to convert all 15 high school football fields from grass to artificial turf. This move is set to cost around $24 million, and the funding comes from the district’s unassigned general fund balance, so no tax increases will be necessary.
Why Change from Grass to Turf?
Currently, all high school athletic fields are made of natural grass. While there’s something beautiful about a lush green field, maintaining that beauty is no small task. Superintendent Burke Royster noted that caring for these grass fields takes a lot of time and money. The growing number of teams using the same stadium fields has only made maintenance more challenging, leading to steeper costs and a higher chance of student injuries.
Did you know that in South Carolina, 97 high schools have artificial turf, while 94 schools are still clinging to grass? A recent survey showed that a whopping 73 out of 78 coaches prefer using artificial turf. This preference speaks volumes about the benefits of making the switch. With turf, coaches and athletes can expect less wear and tear, which ultimately helps in boosting performance and reducing injury risks.
The Benefits of Artificial Turf
Director of Athletics Darryl Nance mentioned a thorough investigation before reaching this decision. The board believes that by installing turf, they can host more sporting events at the stadiums. And why not? After all, many sports, including soccer and lacrosse, use these venues year-round! Turf fields are generally much more durable against the wear and tear caused by all these activities.
The project has been in the works for over a year already and is expected to kick off in November 2025, right after the football season wraps up. The turf installation will take about 26 months, and the first schools to get the new fields will be Wade Hampton High School and Greenville High School.
Cost and Maintenance
Now, you might wonder how much it will cost to maintain these shiny new turf fields. The estimated annual maintenance cost will be nearly $1.1 million. This sounds high, but when you look at the current annual cost of maintaining the 15 grass fields, which sits at around $167,196 covering mowing, reseeding, and lining for games, making the switch starts to make more sense.
Ongoing Concerns
A Growing Trend
As you can see, this project aligns with a broader trend observed in high schools across South Carolina. Schools are increasingly looking to accommodate more teams and sports without needing to expand their real estate footprint. On January 28, 2025, the board will take the final vote on this game-changing plan. For all the student-athletes, coaches, and sports fans in Greenville, this is a thrilling development to keep an eye on!
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Greenville Schools to Invest $24 Million in Artificial Turf
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Additional Resources
- Fox Carolina: Greenville County Schools Votes to Convert Athletic Fields
- Wikipedia: Artificial Turf
- WSPA: Greenville Co. HS Football Fields to Get Artificial Turf
- Google Search: Greenville County Schools Athletic Fields
- Post and Courier: Greenville Schools Artificial Turf Proposal
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Synthetic Turf
- MSN: Greenville Co. HS Football Fields to Get Artificial Turf
- Google News: Greenville County Schools Artificial Turf
Author: STAFF HERE GREENVILLE
The HERE Greenville Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Greenville community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background Local Roots in Greenville Our team includes lifelong Greenville residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent sales in the Heritage Historic District 17 , Greenville’s textile and railroad heritage 2 , and growth in local education sectors (e.g., Greenville Technical College programs) 27 . Collective Experience With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.
