The high school’s turf field is

FLOODED TURF FIELD REQUIRES IMMEDIATE RECONSTRUCTION

Summer flooding causes considerable damage to athletic field

CAROLINE TYRRELL news editor

The athletic field didn’t last a full year; it is currently under reconstruction due to flooding damage caused by a storm that occurred over the summer.

At the end of August, seven inches of rain flooded many areas of St.

Louis, including Ladue High School’s turf field. Although the rain lasted less than an hour, it heavily damaged the field.

“The part of the field that was damaged quite severely is called the underbase, so it’s not necessarily the turf but it’s the drainage system that’s under it,” Nicholas Gianino, director of activities, said. “Essentially, there were sinkholes and then there were waves caused.”

Due to the destruction, the field has to be redone. This fix is not an easy one, as many layers of the field now need to be repaired.

“In order to fix [the damage], the turf has to come up, which means all the seams have to be ripped, the turf has to be rolled, and more of the under base has to be brought in and leveled,” Gianino said. “The drainage system has to be repaired, and then new turf comes in.”

Although a large portion of the field has to be torn up and rebuilt, it will not change the look of the field.

The district decided that since the field is so new, they will not change the design.

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“It will be the same exact field, exdeductible,” Gianino said. “It costs cept for brand new,” Gianino said. “It very little in comparison to the total will be the same design, it will have cost of the project of the renovation.” all the same markings on the field, it Unfortunately, this is not the first will just be brand new turf.” flooding issue that Ladue has dealt

Since the field is no longer usable with. The creek that runs behind the at this time, some sports have had to school causes frequent problems by find practice space elsewhere. Footoverflowing when heavy rain storms ball, for example, now practices at occur. However, the district improved Ladue’s Fifth Grade Center. the creek’s floodway prior to install

“Kids have adjusted really well ing the new field last year in hopes with everything,” football coach Mike of preventing an incident like the Tarpey said. “I think the hardest thing current flooding damage. is for the three programs — [football], “There’s quite a bit of tension built soccer and field hockey — all basically sharing one turf field.” However, the field’s destruction is not as There was a rippling effect and underground sinkholes which created the safety issue. “ into the underbase that helps with a lot of those issues,” Gianino said. inconvenient as MIKE TARPEY | assistant principal “The probit seems. Due to lem was, it the restrictions was just so placed on high frequency sports in St. much rain so fast, that the water came Louis County this year, the football up so fast and there was nowhere for team is unable to play any games for it to go.” the time being. The district addressed the prob

“Fortunately, we’re not in the situlem immediately and has once again ation where [hosting football games] started working with ATG Sports, is an issue because of the pandemic,” the company that built the new field Gianino said. last year. They have made a plan to

Despite the many repairs that need reconstruct the damaged parts of the to be made to the field, the process field and are hopeful that it will be will not be overly expensive. Since the finished within the next month. field is insured, the insurance compa“We hope that it’s done by the end ny will pay for most of the construcof the first or second week of Octotion work. ber,” Gianino said. “They started at

“It’s the very minimum. The the beginning of September and it’s insurance covers everything but the about a four to six week process.” p

LEFT: A construction worker operates machinery while working on the renovation of the field. The construction crew has been working for a few weeks now and are about halfway done. “Right now, they have about half of the field’s turf rolled up, so we’re getting close to bringing in the new turf,” Nicholas Gianino said. (Photo by Grace Hensley)

BELOW: ATG Sports parks their vehicles are on the athletic field. Sports such as football and cross country were unable to use the field and track this season due to the renovation. “The facility is shut down because of the construction,” Gianino said. (Photo by Grace Hensley)

TURF TIMELINE

FEBRUARY 2018

Ladue City Council approved the renovation of the old field.

AUGUST 2020

Rain caused flooding that damaged the new turf football field.

OCTOBER 2020

Ladue is hopeful that the field will be complete by this October.

SEPTEMBER 2019

Ladue hosted Webster Groves for the grand opening of the stadium.

SEPTEMBER 2020

ATG Sports started working on the reconstruction of the field.