The City Council Tuesday night approved an order from Mayor Richard Kos for $530,888 to replace the synthetic turf field at Chicopee High School. The appropriation will be taken from the City’s stabilization fund, which is money set aside for capital projects or unforeseen circumstances, and will be later added to a comprehensive bonding package for the City.

The current synthetic turf field at Chicopee High School, which was installed in 2004 when the school opened over 13 years ago, has outlived its useful life and wearing beyond repair. The field is utilized by many of the school’s athletic teams and gym classes and has begun to become a safety hazard.

“CHS is extremely grateful for the efforts of the Mayor and City Council to secure a new synthetic turf field,” said Chicopee Public Schools Athletic Director Sean Mackin. “The replacement of the turf and addition of the shock pad is vast improvement for student-athlete safety.”

“The turf field is an important part of our academic program and thanks go to the staff for getting 14 years when the useful life is said to be about 10 years,” said Mayor Kos.

The Chicopee Public Schools Athletic Department has secured pricing and expects to replace the field over the summer before the fall athletic season begins. The new synthetic turf field will include a shock pad, a new technology that has been designed to help decrease the occurrences of injury.

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