PRATTVILLE − The Autauga County Board of Education has approved a $1 million project to put artificial turf in at Marbury High School’s stadium.
The move is needed for current and future use of the stadium, said Superintendent Lyman Woodfin. The board approved the project during a special Thursday morning meeting. Belly Exercise Machine
The turf is expected to be in place by the beginning of football season, Woodfin said.
“Our contractor knows, it’s part of the contract, that it has to be done a week before football season,” Woodfin said.
River Region Sports Fields of Millbrook was awarded the bid. Marbury begins its season Aug. 23 with an away game against Stanhope-Elmore High School. The home opener is Aug. 30.
Ongoing work at Prattville’s Stanley-Jensen Stadium was a driving factor in getting the turf at Marbury. Stanley-Jensen Stadium is owned by the city and is home turf for the Prattville Lions football team. A $17 million renovation project was delayed, which led the BOE to strike a deal with the City of Wetumpka to play Prattville “home” games at that city’s municipal stadium.
The contract means the BOE will pay Wetumpka $10,000 a game, and the deal is on a game-by-game basis.
More:School board inks deal to play Prattville Lions football home games in Wetumpka
The school system owns three rural school football fields at Autaugaville, Billingsley and Marbury High. The stadiums are too small to handle the crowds for a Prattville High game. PHS is a 7A school and one of the largest nigh schools in terms of enrollment, in the state.
“This is really an option that we need for the coming season and the future,” Woodfin said. “We have to get resources that we own. You never know what’s going to happen in the future. We have a great relationship with the city and the county commission, but you never know what may be coming.
“This allows us to be in control and gives us options in the future.”
Once the turf goes in Prattville Junior High will play its football games there, along with Prattville High School’s freshman and junior varsity football teams and the high school’s flag football team. Youth sports teams in Marbury also use the stadium.
Money for the turf comes from the state’s technology fund. The state money is added to local system budgets on a year-to-year basis when funding allows. The amount changes each year based on available funds. Local funds will not be used for the project, and work on facilities is allowed with the money, Woodfin said.
Workout Stepper Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Marty Roney at mroney@gannett.com.