Installation of new turf has begun at McCully Field

Wheaton, Ill. (7/7) - Work began Saturday June 26 on the installation of new playing surfaces at Wheaton's McCully Field (PICTURED LEFT) and East McCully Field. The projected completion date should be in time for the Thunder football and soccer teams' first home games of the 2004 season in September. The new surfaces will be used by the Wheaton's varsity football program on McCully Field and the varsity men's and women's soccer programs on East McCully Field. In addition, many of the school's club sports and intramural programs will be able to use the new surfaces.

The project began in early June with initial demolition work, which includes removing unsuitable soil and organic materials and clearing the site. The area will then be graded to flatten the surface. On top of that level are layers constructed with permeable materials - for a drainage system, fabric material, crushed stone, and the FieldTurf system itself.

Director of Athletics, Tony Ladd is excited about the completion of this long-awaited project. He says of the Field Turf installation, We are landlocked and as a result have been unable to meet the needs of our outdoor athletics teams. This gives us an opportunity to enhance our broad-based program, without costly land acquisition close to the campus. He added, Given the weather constraints in this part of the country in the late fall and the successes of our teams over the past decade their seasons have been pushed farther into the fall. The artificial grass surfaces will allow our teams to have the best possible playing experiences.