GCA's New Turf Field is Finished!

 

On November 1, just four days after the Grace football team completed its historic undefeated season with a heart-stopping 3-0 win over South Pittsburg, bulldozers and trucks descended upon the Jerry Disney Family Sports Complex. Their mission was to come and dig out the beautiful grassy turf to replace it with a brand new, state-of-the-art synthetic turf field, the first of its kind in Knox County.

Coach Randy McKamey shared this vision with several community leaders and donations began to come in to finance the Sports Turf XP-42, which has a 10-year warranty. It comes with rubberized granules, called infill, added to sand below the artificial grass surface, which reduces impact injuries common to most athletic fields. It also drains very well, and it does not get hot like older synthetic turf fields. The same field is currently in use in Ralph Wilson Stadium, home to the NFL Buffalo Bills.

Thanks to the many outside gifts, not a dime for this project will come from the GCA operating budget. Coach McKamey added,"We spend a tremendous amount of money on water, chemicals and mowing machine time getting the grass field ready, and even that does not guarantee a nice field." With its fast drainage and versatility, this field will be lined and ready for soccer as well as football. It can also be rented out to other groups for sporting events and even graduation ceremonies. God has been so good to Grace Christian. We are a blessed school, and this field will be used to honor Him while making wise use of our limited space.

The field was unveiled on Sunday, February 12, 2012, during GCA's Prospective Student Open House. Camera crews from local news affiliates came, and Coach McKamey served as a happy host to the parents and athletes who came to see the finished field. Below are some pictures of the celebration! Celebration Day photos courtesy of Kara McKamey Photography.

A sign reveals the many sponsors who stepped up to help with the field's installation.

Views from the pressbox of the "GRACE" endzone and the "RAMS" endzone.

You'll have a good view from your seat on the 47 yard line. Be sure to buy your season tickets!

Grace Baptist Church Senior Pastor Dr. Ron Stewart talks to parents. The field looks spectacular on a warm winter's day.

Coach Randy McKamey answers questions from a TV crew -- The view from the pressbox has never looked better!

Below is a composite of the progress from Day One (left) on November 1st until its completion on February 10.

DAY ONE - November 1, 2011 - "The old has gone, and behold, new things are coming."

Day two was spent grading and prepping the soil for the base layer and drainage pipes.

Perimeter curbing is constructed to hold the field material.

Geotextile fabric is placed under drainage pipe to prevent sediment leakage.

11.11.11 - The drains are done, and the field awaits the next layer! Final sub base has been established.

Geotextile mat separates the dirt from the gravel. Dad volunteers stand on their work! 2000 tons of gravel arrives!

The gravel is being laser graded to ensure a level playing field. The new goal post is installed.

 
Not snow, but lights glisten off the 2000 tons of gravel. The goalpost is almost up . . .

. . . and now it looks level and ready for some PAT's!

The final layer of 3500 tons of gravel is now secure. The turf arrives Friday, 12/16 and installation begins Monday, December 19!

December 16, 2011 - the new turf is unloaded

The new turf is rolled out on top of the base. Look how fast the new turf makes a runner—just a blur!

December 19 - The first 35 yard lines of field and the end zone are rolled out. The sun sets on a good start to laying the new turf.

The numbers look just a little off, Eric. We hope he knows his numbers by 10s!!

January 4th - The 50 yard line gets fine tuned. The RAM end zone gets its letters installed.

January 5th - The entrance gate to the field gets its turf installed. The field nears completion - beautiful!

GCA students in the Winterim 'Build Ram Tough' class help with the brickwork by the new turf. 120 pound bags of rubber pellets arrive.

Ram Tough students install the walkway next to the field. January 15th - The field awaits rubber pellets and sewn-in lines.

Football players get a chance to "inspect" the new turf.

Junior Will McKamey practices a 40 on the new turf.