The Synthetic Turf Council has announced the winners of its 2010 Search for the Real Field of Dreams Contest. The awards were given out for unique or outstanding use of artificial grass to build athletic fields, community parks and other open space areas. The two grand prize winning projects were singled out for their ability to utilize artificial grass fields to help communities overcome adverse situations.
One of the grand prize winners was Kiowa County High School in Greenburg, Kansas. A devastating Class Five tornado destroyed 95 percent of the town in 2007, including the high school and its athletic field. The town rallied around the school and rebuilding its athletic field, and decided that installing artificial turf was the right choice for the school’s long-term needs. With donations deferring much of the artificial grass cost, school officials were able to complete a new stadium for the 2009 football season, making it the only eight-man football field using artificial turf.
The second grand prize winner was John Wister Elementary School in Philadelphia. Located in the heart of a depressed part of the city, the school’s playground serves as an urban oasis where parents can bring children to enjoy playground equipment and the joy of being outside. The school was able to use a fake lawn to create an open space that was previously just dirt, protecting students and families who use the playground on a regular basis.
