Turf’s Up, Game On
Cazenovia Central School District
Multi-purpose field reconstruction for six sports
Persistent poor field conditions and long turf recovery times were a disruption of games, practices and physical education classes at Cazenovia Junior/Senior High School. The district selected Tetra Tech to lead a comprehensive stadium and multipurpose fields reconstruction project. The objective was to reduce injury risk, minimize event disruption, and create an inclusive, high‑quality athletic complex that will serve all students and the broader community.
Tetra Tech provided pre‑referendum services, and with the District, created information that conveyed the importance of the conversion from the natural turf to synthetic fields and reconstruction of the track. The information shared with the community emphasized multiuse benefits for the improvements that provided for football, boys’ and girls’ soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, and modified baseball and softball.
The site presented significant technical challenges. The track was out of level by three to three‑and‑a‑half feet, the jumping pits drained poorly, and shallow shale required excavation of large volumes of rock. Unanticipated clay deposits prompted extra geotechnical borings, and Tetra Tech adjusted the design in real time as conditions emerged. The scope called for retaining walls to reconcile grade and elevation differences and revised earthwork to create two synthetic turf fields — a renovated infield within the reconstructed Buckley‑Volo track, and an upper multipurpose field for practice and smaller events. The upper field can also be configured with portable baseball and softball layouts, increasing program flexibility.
Environmental protection was a heightened priority as the District campus is across the street from Cazenovia Lake. The Tetra Tech site and engineering team designed a robust stormwater management system featuring underground retention, a pre‑treatment device and an extra filtration unit to protect water quality. They met with the Cazenovia Lake Association and County representatives during outreach efforts to describe mitigation measures and address concerns, ensuring transparency for the process while providing specific strategies that would keep the Lake safe.
Budget stewardship shaped many decisions. Existing bleachers, plazas and concessions were retained to limit cost, while new essentials including a press box, dugouts, scoreboards, fencing and walks, were added to improve safety and function. Pole bases and conduit were designed for future implementation of field lighting so the District could avoid the expense and permitting risks of installing full pole systems immediately, and pursue lighting later in a cost‑effective manner. Minimal building improvements, such as wiring conduits for security cameras, were included to qualify the work for SED building aid without overextending the budget.
Despite narrow public approval and complex subsurface conditions, the project met the district’s goals. The reconstructed track, two synthetic turf fields, improved drainage and upgraded infrastructure reduced downtime, expanded usable practice space, and reinforced the junior/senior high school’s role as the community’s athletic hub — a durable investment in student safety, equity and long‑term program viability.