While students and teachers have been taking a summer break, the Bainbridge Island School District capital projects staff has been working on a field renovation project for Woodward Middle School.

On July 27, the BISD received an over $1.397 million donation from the BI Youth Soccer Club to pay for a new turf field to support year-round youth athletic programs.

BISD Facilities and Operations director Dane Fenwick said BIFC agreed to fund the field renovation, and BISD would provide priority reservations and scheduling to BIFC for the field for the expected life of the turf, but no less than 10 years after completion of the field.

Fenwick said the project was not forecast in the 2019 levy or previous bonds. Still, it was communicated to the interested parties that “BISD would not be able to contribute funds to the project.” However, through the “tremendously thoughtful and gracious donation of the necessary funds from the Bainbridge Island FC,” the project’s first phase would be completed this year.

The north field will be approximately 85,000 square feet with a cork-infilled synthetic turf that will reuse the existing drainage system below the grass field. After removing the sod layer, crews will install a rigid drainage tile mat on the sand with a structural fabric. Then, a supplemental pad will be installed, followed by the turf and cork infilling.

The city has confirmed that due to the nature of the existing work area and stormwater infrastructure, the project can be treated as maintenance/replacement vs. construction and go through a simplified permitting process. Construction completion is expected in early November.

Also, during a special session Aug. 3, the school board awarded a $273,123 contract to DA Hogan & Associates for consultation, engineering, landscape architecture, and fees for the Woodward field renovation.

The contract includes a scope of services for two phases of work. Phase I includes installing the north turf field within the rubberized track. Phase II encompasses development and design of the second field on the southernmost area of the existing field layout with a lighting system to illuminate both fields for evening use.

DA Hogan & Associates have consulted on all significant BISD athletic renovations for the past 16 years, including; the BHS stadium turf project, the original Woodward track and organic turf installation; and consultation services for the BHS baseball and softball field renovations.

The school board also awarded the more than $1397 million construction contract for the Woodward field renovation project to Coast to Coast Turf based in Seattle.