12:50 PM MDT on Tuesday, June 27, 2006

EAGLE -- Eagle High School has become the first high school in Idaho with a turf football field.

Troy Colson-KTVB

Crews got started Monday rolling out the turf for Eagle High's Thunder Stadium.

NewsChannel 7 was there Monday while crews installed it at Thunder Stadium.

Crews were working under the hot sun to lay down this turf and will continue their job Tuesday.

The Eagle High Booster Club says this project will serve as a multi-purpose facility for the community -- come rain or shine.

“We can play soccer on it, our band can practice on it, lacrosse in the spring, PE classes, the whole community can use this year round, you can play it year round, if it rains it falls off it, and you can play on it in the winter,” said Terry Beck, Eagle High Principal.

“Right now the football field is used 10 times a year, and now it’s going to be used hundreds of times a year,” said Joe Rogan, Eagle High Booster Club.

This astroturf is a half-million dollar project funded entirely by donations.

So far the booster club has raised half of the money, and club members are certain the rest of it will arrive by December.

Rogan says area businesses and individuals are jumping at the chance to help out.

“They recognize the need for less land, less upkeep and ultimately a better playing surface for the kids to get involved with,” said Rogan.

It’s a high up-front cost for the booster club, but in the end members say the turf is an investment that will save money and players.

“We’re not going to spend the gas or man-hours to mow it every day. We aren't going to have to repaint the lines every week. We are going to be able to have a safer playing surface for our kids,” said Rogan.

“This stuff is about a layer this thick with rubber in it, and it’s actually better for joints and ankles than grass fields. Sometimes grass fields get lumpy, hard and soft. This is consistent, it’s the same everyday,” said Beck.

The Eagle High Booster Club really checked this turf out.

They talked with many schools in the Northwest that are using it and heard a lot of great comments.

They are very excited to kick off this school year on this brand new turf, and they hope more schools catch on to the idea, because they believe it’s a good way to save the district money.