Behind-the-scenes coordinators and construction company representatives will carry out the renovation of a new GWEC athletic field for students and the community. The project will be very useful both for the students’ spirit for having a new field and for their ways of practicing the different sports that this new field offers them. It is understood that this will be completed by May 31, 2024.
“New Year, New Field- “
— GOOO GW!
” What is the project behind this new renovation?”
” So, the idea is that we have a field that is in disrepair. To many students are getting hurt on it and not only do we want to repair it and improve it, but we are putting a brand new field all turf no dirt, no sand, that’s going to be here for football, flag football, baseball, softball, soccer girls and boys and it would be versatile enough to be able to handle all of that.”
” How long do you think this new field renovation would last?”
” It would not take any longer than May 31, 2024.”
“Many students are getting hurt and we not only want to repair and improve it, but we are putting in a new field, all grass and no dirt”
— Timothy Sigerson-principle of The College Academy
“What impact will this new project have on all sports teams?”
It affects outdoor sports such as baseball, football, sprinters, and all school sports. It will influence the physical education students and give that feeling of improvement to the entire school like baseball by not having to deal with dirt in all types of environments or on the pitcher’s mound. American football for having the line of play that is seen and its symbol in the center. Soccer has a new grass to improve speed while feeling more comfortable.
” It will influence the physical education students and give that feeling of improvement to the entire school.”
— Jodie Fuerguson- Atheletic Director
” How do you feel about the new field being renovated?”
” I think is going to be good for the school, for the community so I’m excited about a new field.”
” Do you think this would help new athletes?”
” Well yeah, I think having new stuff that is up to date is going to have them be more affected as in the students are in their career in track and other sports.”
“Be more affected as in the students are in their career in track and other sports.”
— Coach Chumney- Track Coach
We Further got insights on what our Campus-wide students and coaches had to say about the surprise of the new renovation of our new field.
” How do you feel as a manager of the track team of this new field being fixed?”
” I feel very happy, I am not a track runner myself. But, I am the manager and I feel like this would be a better motivation for the track runners because seeing a new field is like oh my god like were able to run now like we can see the lines on the track. We can know where to go and everything.”
“This would be a better motivation for track runners because seeing a new course is like, oh my god, like we can run now”
— Adriana Nunez-Track Manager
” Do you think that this will impact new students coming into George Washington would impact them beneficially?”
” I think it will, because when we first got to the school we didn’t know much about the field and the track was not very new or like modern or anything, and now with the new field everything is going to look new. So, it might bring in more faces and more people to be on the team and people wanting to do sports.”
( Meet the indoors/outdoors girl’s and boys track team)
“What advantage will this new field bring to baseball teams?”
For baseball teams it will also help because we don’t have to clean the field due to sand or other environmental obstacles or move the dugout. In reality it will help all the school teams, not just football, it looks like football but it is for everyone.
“How will the development of this project influence the community?”
A benefit for everyone is that it is a new time so all the kids who are here from 20 to 25 years old will be on a new field and it is good for the community because not only us with the teams that we played when they were invited to our field, will be very happy because they will be in a new field, because they come here to exercise by riding bicycles or practicing some other sport.
“In reality it will help all the school teams, not just football, it looks like football but it is for everyone”
— Keven Cisnero- coach of Baseball Boys Jr. Varsity
“What would be the impact that American football players would have with this project?”
It is a very good opportunity for the field, especially when we play without structural interference, I have many injuries that have happened here, especially because of the baseball field with its dirt that interrupts our games, but I am very proud that we were finally able to get a new field and very grateful to the school and the people who have made this possible and a little nervous about how this will influence our performance on the field.
“It is a very good opportunity for the field, especially when we play without interference”
— Carlos Munoz- Captain of the American Football team- High-School For Law and Public Service
“What is the problem with this field that they have to renew it?”
Mainly the infrastructure such as sand or potholes that make us trip when playing. A field with only sports grass and with enough parts of other types of sports, that do not interfere with the game, would be a perfect field to play on.
“How necessary is this new field for students who play sports?”
I think it is very necessary and we have been waiting for it for a long time, I am very happy and proud of this. It is definitely very beneficial for the field as this new project proposes ways in which all sports teams can share the field so that each team performs its own performance.
” Is definitely very beneficial for the field.
— Patrick Cole-American Football Player- HighSchool For Law and Public Service
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We move further to interviewing Pantelis who is behind the Scenes in managing the field while being renovated.
“How would the field look to students when is being renovated?”
” It would look as a transition from ground to up and is going to start developing a look of a brand new field and something of a new start for the George Washington Highschool. Is going to be a new era with a new logo, a new track, a new field, and new turf.”
” How would this new field impact high school students and how would it impact the Tep charter schools?”
“We’re looking to the least amount of impact of the school where we are just staying within the field, where is going to be off limits for the whole school while the process is completed. Were looking for the least amount of disturbance of the school and their activities as possible. We’re going to try to get in and get out as soon as possible and return the field to school.”
” Is there a source that students can look at while the field is being renovated?”
“We are looking to get a source I’ll let you know and we are looking to put a camera up that is going to be videotaping the whole process and at the end will have a video that we can show from the transitions from demoying down to a new field. So that we will see if it is going to go live online, but eventually at the end we will have a montage to provide to the school. So, that they can give to their students and parents of the field being renovated.”
“Something of a new start for the George Washington Highschool.”
— Pantelis - Behind the scenes coordinator
Then to dig deep into this process I decided to interview the program director of the athletic division in New York City. the contract facilitators, and the construction companies.
“Can you please elaborate on the further details that will occur in this new field?”
” So, the idea here is to take an outdated field and bring in the latest technology the best surface. It’s a mix of infield is a mix of sand and TPE in field which is a safer play rather than the crumber rubber that your playing on now is softer and is better on the joints and the temperature is much cooler. The plan is to bring that surface in here and have it completed within five months and it would be complete with the track in the field. Also looking forward to bringing in the scoreboard to making sure all the drainages are clear, so this way you won’t have any problems with mud or problems you have currently with the baseball diamond.”
“So the idea here is to take an obsolete field and bring the latest technology to the best surface”
— Kevin Moran- New York Public Athletic Operations
” Do you think that the turf itself for athletic players would be changed into real turf?”
” Yes! you will get the best synthetic turf on the market right now. TPE infield is the best on joints if you study this is the best stuff for soccer and all sports. So, you’ll see when you get on this and feel the turf.”
“Is there a way that it will be also safer for other PSAL teams when they visit our turf?”
” Yes! The current students that are playing on the most recent job we did pretty much want this turf and requested it. The travel team that was on Curtis High School and Madison both teams asked to have a replication and they got it. So, they all have the latest turf.
” What would be some challenges of renovating the field?”
” Your Collapse drained under your field is the only challenge the rest is pretty cut dry.
” How much would the cost be of renovating the field?”
” I think we’re at 3.1 million for the whole field. I think we’re doing the track, the field, the fencing and were getting a soccer goal post and scoreboard.”
“I think we’re at 3.1 million for the whole field.”
— Don Emerson-Construction Company
Kevin Moran- Director of New York City Highschool
” For soccer players and all sports would the baseball sand be removed or would it expand?”
” No! it’s the same. So, when you look at your dimensions you have the full regulation soccer lines their going to be different colors. So, the lines would be white, yellow, and black to show where each team would cross for soccer, baseball, football you name it they all will be lined. No, that won’t be there it’s just going to be a different color it’s going to be like the green but a different color.”
Utterly, we can see how exciting this new opportunity is for staff athletic directors and most importantly students. We can say that this new field will open doors to a variety of students who are currently not involved in a sport or after-school sports club, we will have many students involved and eventually create an equal and joyful campus.
