In addition to various recent improvements across the district, focus this year was set on the turf fields at Marion Street Elementary School and North Middle School. These turf fields are used by many high school sport teams including varsity football, flag football, lacrosse, and soccer. When word spread that the fields were being redone, coaches and student athletes were excited. Both fields were refurbished this school year, and great change has come with the new turf.
“Marion Street was in need of replacement as it hit its 10-year lifespan. The North project had been talked about for a few years but came to fruition after a meeting with the facilities committee in 2021. From the groundbreaking to playing on North, the project took four months. Marion Street took about one month to replace the carpet,” Athletics Director Joseph Martillotti explained. “The new turf has a little more bounce, which is to be expected after the old turf was packed down over 10 years,” he added. This new bounce, however, has noticeably changed the overall feel of practices.
In terms of changes to his athletic performance, varsity lacrosse player and junior Bennett Votano said, “I feel that my cuts are much more efficient.” Votano added, “I’ve heard mixed opinions about the new turf; some love it, and others are scared to get hurt on it being that it is not broken in yet.”
“There is a distinguishable difference between the ‘feel’ of the new and old turfs. North was a dirt field before, so the new turf takes getting used to. Marion, however, was a turf before, so it feels nice now,” soccer and flag football player Gabriella Ramirez, a junior, explained. Ramirez noted that she has not personally seen any noticeable differences in athletes’ performance on the new field. English teacher and boys’ varsity football and girls’ varsity flag football coach David Yaker added, “[The new turf fields have] no holes, no worn out spots, and are a lot softer. And at North, it blows away the old grass.”
In addition to refurbishing the turfs, lights were added to the Marion Street field. Martillotti shared, “[In addition to the lights,] I would love to see a turf for softball and baseball infields so we don’t have to cancel games because of rain.”
In all, this new update to these Lynbrook fields will benefit the sports programs. “I was happy when I heard the turfs were being redone. This is because the field at North was grass before and difficult to play on,” Ramirez explained. These improvements will aid both coaches and players. “The facilities are incredible and give all the kids the opportunity to perform at their best,” Yaker expressed.
