Jeannette moving track resurfacing at McKee Stadium to April
By:
Wednesday, August 21, 2019 | 5:09 PM
Jeannette’s McKee Stadium has had a natural grass playing surface since it opened in 1937. In the fall of 2019, it will have turf.
Jeannette will wait until after the busy fall sports season to resurface its track at McKee Stadium, superintendent Matt Jones said.
The track was part of the renovation project that included adding artificial turf to the longtime home of the Jayhawks. But with the first home football game set for Aug. 30 against Leechburg and the start of soccer season and other events looming, work on the track would have had a negative influence on the schedule.
Instead, the track project will begin in April.
“The issue with the track is the window needed to complete it from start to finish,” Jones said. “We had to consider perfect working conditions, which is unlikely, and the impact it would have on our fall sports schedule and band.”
Jones said the track would need a minimum of five days to cure — after the old surface is removed and the new painted.
Shutting down the stadium for an extended period of time during the fall would have been “a disservice to our students,” Jones said.
“The entire Jeannette community is excited to begin using the field, and to restrict its usage would be in opposition to the original intent to install the artificial turf.”
As for the turf, Jeannette is planning a ribbon-cutting ceremony next week.
Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.
Tags: Jeannette
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