Dartmouth Plans Field Upgrades
4/5/2007 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey, Men's Lacrosse, Women's Lacrosse, Athletics
Dartmouth Plans Field Upgrades
April 17, 2007
Dartmouth's lacrosse and field hockey teams, as well as club and recreational sports, are expected to benefit from new playing surfaces in 2008.
Beginning in November 2007, Scully-Fahey Field will be resurfaced with FieldTurf (an “infill” surface currently in place at Memorial Field). Pending approval from the Town of Hanover, the College would also begin construction of an AstroTurf (knitted nylon) field at a location to be determined.
Men's and women's lacrosse will continue to practice and compete at Scully-Fahey Field, while field hockey ? which has played at SFF since the facility opened in 2000 ? would relocate to the new AstroTurf field. Dartmouth's burgeoning club and recreational sport programs would also get a boost through utilization of the AstroTurf.
Dartmouth College officials announced the proposal in late March. Tentative plans call for the three teams to play their 2008 seasons on new surfaces ideal to each sport's characteristics.
To remain nationally competitive, the lacrosse teams need FieldTurf, but field hockey is best suited to the smoother AstroTurf surface.
Currently, Scully-Fahey Field features an AstroTurf field scheduled for replacement because of normal wear and tear. In the seven years since SFF opened as a state-of-the-art facility, the preferred surface for lacrosse has changed to FieldTurf.
“It's the best case scenario for all involved programs,” said field hockey coach Amy Fowler. “Thanks to Josie (Athletic Director Josie Harper), President (James) Wright and Dartmouth's administration for their efforts in making this a reality. It's another exciting step forward for Big Green athletics.”
