Vernon Voters Approve Artificial Turf, New Track For High School

VERNON, CT — A plan to replace the natural grass surface with artificial turf at the Rockville High School stadium and renovate the RHS track and field surface was overwhelmingly approved by voters Tuesday.

The tally was 336 yes votes and 128 no votes.

The Vernon Town Council had previously voted to send the plan to a town meeting.

Construction could commence over the summer, school and municipal officials have said.

The total cost of the complex is $1,549,171. The current proposal to pay for the complex with available cash replaced a plan proposed a year earlier to lease the field before buying it outright.

To pay for the field, a total of $1,129,462 will be taken out of the capital non-recurring fund for education for a Field Turf surface and maintenance plan.

The balance — $419,709 for a new track and field surface — will come from the municipal general fund.

Vernon Superintendent of Schools Joseph Macary said an artificial surface will add 30 to 35 days of usage to the complex because of fewer drainage and weather-related issues.

Macary said permanent lines for football and soccer would part of the field. Lacrosse lines would be painted on seasonally, he added.