A fund-raising effort for a $1.2 million project to install synthetic surface field turf at Muirlands Middle School will kick off with an informational open house Thursday, June 14, 6 p.m., at the field.
Turf It, a committee comprising parents and other members of the school, was formed as a way to generate funds for the new field when the school realized that the number of accidents involving bad field conditions grew to more than a dozen during the past school year, according to Howard Frank, a committee member and member of the Foundation of La Jolla High School.
“The athletic field is just atrocious, and it’s no one’s fault except that the natural daily usage is about 1,000 kids,” Frank said. “The bottom line is that no matter how much money the district spends on fertilizer, seed and other maintenance for the field, it cannot be kept up in a reasonable manner, and now it’s a safety hazard.”
After San Diego Unified School District told the committee it could only help with minimal funds, Turf It met with principals at Muirlands Middle School and La Jolla High School, as well as Bird Rock, La Jolla and Torrey Pines elementary schools, to get them on board.
Students from all La Jolla schools and youth involved in intramural leagues all use the field, Frank said. The committee has set the project installation for August.
Turf It committee member Linden Blue made the first donation of $25,000 and has challenged 20 others to match the pledge by July 1. The committee plans to honor donors with recognition, such as engraving names on a donor wall for a $1,000 contribution right up to naming the field for anyone willing to give $1 million.
Donations should be addressed to Muirlands Foundation, 1056 Nautilus St., La Jolla, CA 92037. For more information contact Frank, (858) 454-6751 or (619) 574-1888.