Board approves $9,400 feasibility study to evaluate synthetic turf and lighting for district fields

Tunkhannock Area School District trustees approved a feasibility study with CHA to evaluate synthetic turf and lighting options for multiple athletic fields, authorizing a $9,400 engagement to produce sketch plans and cost estimates.

The superintendent and facilities staff said recent drainage problems kept teams off fields this spring, prompting a desire for data on whether turf, lighting or reconfiguration of fields would be feasible and cost-effective. A CHA representative said the study will compare current maintenance costs with projected costs for new surfaces and will consider staged approaches so that upgrades could be done over time rather than as a single large outlay.

Some board members warned that turf and full field conversion could be 'humongous' in upfront cost — one member cited an earlier football-field cost estimate 'close to $4,000,000' and said more targeted reconfiguration might produce savings. Others argued that a feasibility snapshot will help the district plan a staged investment to address drainage and long-term maintenance rather than repeat reactive repairs.

The motion to approve the CHA feasibility study was moved, seconded and approved by roll call. The vote and the study authorization do not commit the district to construction; they require further engineering and budgeting if the board later decides to proceed with specific field projects.