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Harrison Hills unveils new artificial turf

NEW TURF — Mark Kowalski, director of operations for the Harrison Hills City School District, shows off the artificial turf that has been installed at Wagner Field. - Kim North

CADIZ — The alternating gray and dark gray panels have been laid down and the HC logo has been cut-in at midfield as Phase III of the Wagner Field renovation project continues to progress.

“There’s school colors and school pride everywhere,” Mark Kowalski said recently while looking over the at the Harrison Central football complex.

Kowalski, director of operations for the Harrison Hills City School District, said the project is in the latter stages of the third of four phases.

“All of the concrete has been poured with the exception of a little strip where the heavy equipment is being transported across,” he said. “All of the exterior fencing is finished and final grading is under way by the scoreboard. There is some additional grading and seeding to be done on the hillsides.

“The logo was cut-in and the end zones were completed,” he continued. “As far as the football playing surface, it is finished.”

Additional work along the sidelines was scheduled to be completed, according to Kowalski.

He said it may take a little while for people to get used to it because most schools are going to the green and dark green.

“The gentleman putting it in said it is the only one that he has ever done, so it’s going to a one-of-a-kind,” he continued. “The kids, however, think it is the best thing since sliced bread.”

With concussions on the rise, Harrison Central took an added measure of safety by installing additional padding under the turf. It’s expected to last upwards of 20 years, according to Kowalski, who is leaving Harrison Hills to become the superintendent at Liberty Benton in Findlay at the end of the school year.

The installation of new playing surface is another step in improving facilities at the Cadiz-based school. Last year the Huskies debuted a new scoreboard with a video board. Work has also been done inside the John W. Stephenson Center.

“We’re doing things in phases,” Kowalski added. “We have other plans in place, too. We’re looking at new restrooms, a storage facility and other things toward the gymnasium end of the stadium, as well as work in the actual locker rooms.”

Overseeing the project is the North Royalton-based Motz Group.

Harrison Central will officially christen the new turf with a boys and girls soccer event against Steubenville Big Red on Aug. 18. The varsity football team will make its home debut on Sept. 8 when Bellaire visits for a Buckeye 8 encounter.

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