CHHS athletic field groundbreaking set for May 27

The CH-UH City School District will break ground on its new athletic stadium and field at a public ceremony on May 27.

The Cleveland Heights–University Heights City School District will host a groundbreaking ceremony for the new athletic stadium and field being constructed at Cleveland Heights High School. The event is open to all community members.

The ceremony will take place at the athletic field on Tuesday, May 27 at 5:30 p.m. Participants will include student athletes; school board members; Nylajean McDaniel, superintendent; Jeff Rotsky, head football coach; Nick Continenza, track coach; and Kristin Hughes, athletic director. 

Initial work on the stadium and field began at the end of April. During the month of May, the existing field surface and subsurface is being removed to prepare for installation of the new field and technology cabling that will run under it. The goal posts and stadium scoreboard will be removed for the installation of the new field, but will be re-installed at the end of the project.

The new synthetic turf field will be used for more than just football games. Lacrosse, cheerleading and field hockey teams will be able use the field, as will gym classes, during the school day.

In response to concerns raised by several community members, the CH-UH Board of Education committed to the use of Envirofill synthetic turf, which is a safer alternative to the more common base of tire-derived crumb rubber.

The renovation will increase seating from the current 1,000 seats to 2,500, with 2,000 seats on the home side and 500 on the visitors’ side. The plan includes a new track, fencing, press box and temporary restrooms.

“The Tigers facilities will finally be on par with the success our athletes have been showing on the field,” stated Hughes.

This is the first time the stadium has gotten a facelift since it was built in the 1950s. "Increased costs for upkeep and desperately needed repairs to the track prompted us to move the stadium project forward. Students will be able to use the athletic field while the high school is under construction starting in June 2015," stated Steve Shergalis, director of business services.

The sequence of work will begin with the ordering of the bleachers. The site will then be demolished, graded, and the underground utilities added. The final subgrade elevations and compaction work will be done after the utility work. Finally, the new field, track and bleachers will be installed.

The newly renovated stadium’s grand opening is expected to take place prior to the first home football game of the season, on Saturday, Sept. 13, when the Heights High team takes on the Glenville Tarblooders.