Joplin R-8 Administration recommends spending nearly $700,000 for artificial turf for high school soccer field

Joplin R-8 Board of Education is expected to approve an administration proposal to replace artificial turf at the Joplin High School soccer fields for $694,321.

The proposal is the second major replacement of artificial turf in 2024, following an expenditure of nearly $900,000 for the Joplin High School football practice field in February.

The reasoning for the expenditure was spelled out in the proposal, which was included in the board documentation:

The artificial turf at the JHS Soccer Field has been in place since 2014. The surface has served the district well for nearly eleven seasons, not only for games and practices but for a wide variety of other events, including physical education classes and other JHS student events. Over time, the soccer field has experienced normal issues due to fiber degradation, such as loss of infill and seam damage. The artificial turf GMAX tested within the safe range in November of 2023; however, continual degradation of the fiber coupled with loss of infill material will continue to raise the GMAX number. The turf surface is nearing the end of its life cycle as a safe and true playing surface.

The funding will come from the 2025-2026 capital outlay budget.

If the board approves the expenditure, the current turf will be replaced in November 2025, following the boys soccer season and will be in place before the girls soccer season begins in April 2026.