Pitching in for new turf

Glendale High School celebrates groundbreaking for its new artificial track and field.GLENDALE -- Huge yellow earthmovers moaned as they worked on reshaping Moyse Field and the future of local athletics Thursday.

About 20 Glendale Unified School District and city officials gathered at Glendale High School Thursday morning for a ceremonial groundbreaking for the $1.65-million artificial track and field that should be complete in time for the school's June 22 graduation ceremony.

The current natural-grass field is used by Glendale, Hoover and Crescenta Valley high schools for home football games. It also serves Glendale High's daily physical education classes for about 3,000 students, as well as other events such as track and field meets and soccer games. Even nearby Loyola High School uses Moyse Field for a few home football games each fall.

It took $50,000 to $80,000 annually just to maintain the natural field, said Stephan Hodgson, the district's chief business and financial officer. The costs include labor, watering and materials, he said.

"The biggest issue is we have so much use of the field," Principal Kathy Fundukian said. "It's a community field and maintaining it was impossible. With this, we will be able to provide ours kids with a facility worthy of the school."

After months of negotiations, the Glendale Redevelopment Agency agreed in December to loan the district $1.8-million to fund the installation of the Sprinturf field and artificial track. Under the agreement, the city loaned the district money it would have received over the next 20 years from its Central Project Redevelopment Area, Hodgson said.

It was a small price to pay for both entities, Mayor Rafi Manoukian said.

"The city council has a great relationship with [school board President] Mary [Boger] and the board," Manoukian said. "We will work at any [partnership] to help the schools and make the community a better place."

The district's payments to the Redevelopment Agency, which include a 4% annual interest charge, will be covered by the district's share of redevelopment money. There is no prepayment penalty, Boger said.

"We are so grateful to the city for coming up with this funding method," Boger said. "I am always so grateful that we have such a relationship with the city. It is a vital part of what makes a great city."