Pickerington Community Turf Project

Jay Sharrett, Pickerington Central

"The 2018 football season demonstrated the unstable playing surface of Tiger Stadium, to the point that I requested to move our final two home games to safer field conditions. Our success at Tiger Stadium is well known, with that said, I could not put our players nor our opponents at greater risk for the reason of a home field advantage. I feel and believe this is a safety issue that can be addressed with the stability that an artificial surface provides."

Jay Sharrett

Head Football Coach

Pickerington High School Central

Nate Hillerich, Pickerington North

"In 2019 turf fields have become standard because of their safe & consistent surface. I believe our student-athletes of Pickerington deserve to play on the highest quality surface"

Nathan Hillerich
Head Football Coach
Pickerington High School North

Pickerington Central Marching Tigers

Nathan Stowe, Marching Tiger Band Director

Turfing the Pickerington athletic stadiums for Central and North High Schools would eliminate variables and provide opportunity. As the Director of Bands at PHSC I make decisions that protect our students, PLSD Equipment/Instruments and PLSD Facilities. The condition of Tiger Stadium dictates my decision to field the band or not every Football Friday. Turfing Tiger Stadium (or future PHSC facilities) would provide sure-footed performances for both the Marching Tigers and Tiger Football!

A secondary benefit to turfing our football stadiums would be the revival of the Pickerington Band Festival. Records show that Ohio marching bands pass on our invitation to our local Festival for other contests with more predictable, less muddy, sure-footed turf conditions. Turfing the stadiums would allow both booster clubs the opportunity to bring more and larger bands to Tiger or Panther Stadium.

I’m eagerly looking forward to one day seeing the Marching Tigers perform on a new turfed stadium. Until then we will continue to be strong supporters of our Tiger Football team and all of the Pickerington community.

I am extremely thankful for the members of this grassroots community effort to create change and turf the fields. The existence of the this group has made turf in Pickerington a legitimate near-future reality! Thank you!

Nathan Stowe

Band Director-Marching Tigers

Pickerington High School Central

Pickerington North Marching Panthers

Greg Benson, Marching Panther Band Director

“The prospect of turf at both Panther and Tiger Stadiums is one eagerly awaited by both North and Central High School’s Band Programs. First and foremost, student safety is considered when taking the field on a football Friday night or a competition Saturday for our students. A level, stable, and consistent surface provides the opportunity for our students to be at their best and showcase the level of performance they work tirelessly to perfect. In the modern age of the marching arts, what we are asking of our students from a performance level is ever increasing in difficulty, demand, and breadth. Directors across the country seek turf as a performance surface for their ensembles to preserve and enhance their students’ abilities to perform at their best, in addition to the long-term sustainability of their equipment. Turf in Pickerington would make the Pickerington Band Festival once again a destination performance opportunity, and would allow our students to take the next steps in the great band traditions that we have been blessed with in our town.

We are extraordinarily grateful for the support of our arts and athletic programs by our school district and the Pickerington community, and will continue to return this support through performance and service. The PHSN Bands are thankful for the members this committee and community working tirelessly on the effort to bring turf to Pickerington. We look forward to one day in the not-so-distant future when the Marching Panthers and Marching Tigers can take the field on their brand new turf surfaces!”

Gregory Benson - Director of Bands, Pickerington High School North

SAFETY

FACTS ABOUT TURF

Fewer injuries on wet fields
Fewer injuries on cold days (≤69⁰F)
Decreased incidence of concussion, neural and cervical injury
Decreased incidence of repetitive or recurrent trauma
Decreased incidence of anterior and posterior ligament injury

Source: The American Journal of Sports Medicine August 2004

COMMITMENT

The Field Turf Project Committee has completed extensive research on types of field turf, concussion padding, turf field infill and top vendors in the business. They will also be responsible for both corporate and individual sponsors, fundraisers, and in-kind donations necessary to make the Pickerington Community Turf Project a reality. Check back often for updates.

PRIDE

New field turf will benefit Pickerington Central Athletics, Pickerington North Athletics, both Marching Bands, youth athletics and all students in the Pickerington Local School District.

This will also make Pickerington a destination city for athletic events, band contests and community activities benefiting local area businesses.