Courtesy FWCD
Fort Worth Country Day breaks ground on the new improvement projects.
Fort Worth Country Day has broken ground on one of the most significant athletic improvement projects in the school’s 59-year history.
The $3.5 million project includes excavating two existing athletic fields, Rosacker Stadium and Barnett Havran Track, and installing international-caliber surface technologies, which the school says is “ rivaled by no other high school in North Texas.”
One of the school’s two grass-surfaced field hockey fields will transition into a “wet” hockey field — considered the gold standard in competitive field hockey and comparable to fields played on during World Cup field hockey matches. The water-based turf surface, manufactured by SporTurf™, uses a water cannon irrigation system allowing the school to “weather the field” before games and practices. The field will be completely flat with no crown whatsoever, enabling field hockey players to maximize speed and performance. According to the school, Country Day will be the first school in Dallas-Fort Worth and the third in the state of Texas to implement this field surface technology, providing a valuable site for the sport of field hockey in North Texas.
The project, funded entirely by 21 donors, is slated for completion in the fall of 2022. Fort Worth-based Paragon Sports Constructors is the contractor.
Courtesy FWCD
The planned layout for the new improvement track fields.
“Our track and turf fields improvement project is truly game-changing for FWCD athletics,” says Eric Lombardi, head of school. “No more rainouts because of saturated fields; no more worries about wear-and-tear during practices or competition. We’ll have the ability to host international-caliber athletic events, all while showcasing our 104-acre campus. My top priority, however, is to ensure that FWCD student-athletes can pursue their athletic interests on safe fields and surfaces that offer the highest standards for competitive sports. Calling this project ‘transformative’ would be an understatement.”
Barrett Havran Track will feature new paved-in-place systems, resulting in a 100% impermeable surface.
