New Turf Field Awaits Cardinals - St. Charles Preparatory School

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Turf Field Project
Savko & Sons construction company president Steve
Savko, with St. Charles principal Dominic J. Cavello
’64 and Savko project manager, 1979 graduate Ralph
Polletta, in the early stages of the project.
In early April, after leveling out the ground, a sheet of
drain felt and drainage pipes were put down across the
entire field. That was then covered in a layer of crushed
limestone.
In a view from the main building’s northeast roof, workers
are seen laying the very first strips of synthetic turf
for Walt Plank Field.
A lonely bulldozer scrapes off the top layer of grass
and dirt off the athletic field in preparation for laying a
drainage system and gravel in late March.
In early May workers near completion of the tin roof on
the baseball field’s visitors dugout. The green roofing
will match that of the main school building, Mother of
Mercy Chapel and other campus structures.
In a view from the stadium press box, the red base
path and green infield turfs intersect with the green
football field turf. A thin circular strip has been cut out
of the center of the field in which a yellow stripe will be
inserted for use in soccer and lacrosse games.
(photo left) Phase I of the Turf Field Project came to
a close with the insertion of the “SC” block letters
into the middle of the Sprinturf-installed field and the
spreading of infill (crambiant rubber made of recycled
tires) between the turf’s synthetic blades to provide
special cushioning. Phase II, the construction of a
limestone and brick entryway and the Sean Reed Plaza,
is set to begin in early summer and finish up before the
start of school.
(photo right) Just one day after the installation of Walt
Plank Field’s turf was completed, the new surface
got a stern test. As part of the school’s annual Circus
Day activities, the students used the field for games
of softball, baseball, lacrosse, and even for lounging
around in the warm sun.
St. Charles development director Douglas H. Stein ’78
(left) watches as a concrete curb is installed around the
entire field complex. Also on hand are Savko company
project manager Ralph Polletta ’79 and St. Charles
varsity baseball coach, Ray Benjamin ’91.
The home dugout and the baseball field’s brick wall
fence posts await completion. Meanwhile, pieces of cut
limestone await the summer months when they will become
part of The Sean Reed Plaza, the athletic stadium
complex’s new front entryway.
Sprinturf workers unfurl rolls of the field’s synthetic
surface the second week in May.
St. Charles Preparatory School