Bradwell Institute and Liberty County High School are getting new surfaces for their respective football fields – but first, each needs new dirt underneath the surfaces.
School board members approved change orders to the contracts changing the grass playing fields at Olvey Field/Hokey Jackson Stadium and Donell Woods Stadium/Kirk Warner Field to synthetic surfaces.
The most extensive work to be under the surface is at Liberty’s facility, Donell Woods Stadium/ Kirk Warner Field. While school system officials expect the two football fields to be ready in time for the football season – the two teams open the season against each other August 16 at Olvey Field – the timeline to complete the track at Liberty’s stadium will be extended, according to school system operations director Arnold Jackson.
Trucks were getting stuck on the field during the installation of track curbing and drain lines, Jackson told board members. After the architect made a field inspection, he recommended additional compaction testing. That testing revealed unsuitable soils six inches below the surface and extending to three feet below the existing grades.
“It’s been tough because the school is built on a swamp,” Superintendent Dr. Franklin Perry said. “What we are trying to do with this particular change order is fix the problem now. We need to fix that problem and we think this will fix it.”
The architect recommended adding soil cement across the entire football field and tilted into the soil at a depth of 12 inches. The resulting work is expected to cost nearly $428,000 and will be covered by education-special purpose local option sales tax proceeds.
Board member Donita Strickland pointed out this is the third time the soil at Liberty County High’s stadium has been dug up.
The soil at Bradwell’s field was less of an issue. Unsuitable soil was found during the installation of drain lines and concrete curbing. The top layer of soil would not compact properly because it was not the correct mixture of sand and soil, Jackson said. For correct compaction, the field was recommended to be tilted 12 inches below grade.
That change order will cost the school system a little more than $37,000.
Jackson said the work at Bradwell, which had a price tag of $1.43 million, is about 50% complete. At Liberty County, which had more work schedule because of the addition of a track, the project is about 40% complete. The contract for Liberty’s improvements was about $3.3 million.
Both fields will come with a 10-year warranty once they are accepted. School board chair Verdell Jones said board members wanted to make sure the new fields are safe for players.
“We look forward to two beautiful football fields and a good football season,” she said.