Vancouver Public Schools athletics won’t be stuck in the mud anymore, beginning next fall.
As part of the district-wide improvements funded through a bond measure approved by votes last year, VPS plans to install artificial turf fields at Columbia River, Fort Vancouver, Hudson’s Bay and Skyview high schools next month.
Each school will receive a multipurpose, on-campus turf field. The new fields will replace existing grass fields and will be used for football, soccer, lacrosse, physical education classes and additional activities.
Also, Fort Vancouver’s varsity softball field will be replaced with turf, as well as the baseball infield at Propstra Stadium at Hudson’s Bay High School.
The VPS board of directors voted at its Feb. 27 meeting to approve an agreement to install FieldTurf brand turf, which has been in place at Kiggins Bowl at past 11 years and remains “vibrant and safe well past its warranty period,” the district said.
Work on the fields is expected to begin next month and be completed by August.
Last month, voters approved a bond measure requested by Evergreen Public Schools that would pay district-wide improvements at its schools that would include new turf fields at its four high school campus.
Skyview, Fort Vancouver and Hudson’s Bay use Kiggins Bowl for its varsity and JV football games, which Columbia River has used its on-campus facility. All four schools have used Kiggins for its soccer matches. These new fields will provide the opportunity to keep some of those games on campus.
