At the Rocky View Schools Board of Trustees meeting, the trustees heard a request from the City of Airdrie to help contribute funds for the artificial turf field being constructed at Ed Eggerer Atheltic Park.

Brad Anderson, Manager of Recreation for the City stated they hope RVS will provide $600,000 for the project. Anderson talked about the upside of having a turf field which will also benefit 13,000 RVS students.

"Artificial turf provides up to 615 additional prime time hours per year compared to a natural surface. An artificial turf field could also result in fewer ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injuries, long-term injuries, concussions, severe injuries."

According to Anderson, the field also presents the opportunity for higher-level competition as both Football Alberta and the Alberta Schools Athletic Association specify that artificial turf fields are needed for playoffs and regional championships. Anderson highlighted some other turf field projects that RVS helped pay for including Langdon and Cochrane.

"Currently Rocky View Schools receive top priority in terms of allocation within the city's recreation amenities, meaning that schools receive their ideal schedules before we populate our facility schedules with other community use."

The City of Airdrie is currently supporting the project with a budget of $4.6 million. Anderson hopes RVS will provide 13 per cent ($600,000) of total funds for the field. The city is hopeful that much of the other funds that are budgeted for the project will be from grants and contributions from the province and Rocky View County.

"The city of Airdrie continues to shoulder the bulk of the capital costs, as well as assuming all operational expenditures."

According to Fiona Gilbert, Board Chair of RVS, it will take some time for RVS to come up with a decision on the project.

If the funds are donated, Anderson stated the city will recognize the contribution through prominent signage, stakeholder celebrations and continued top priority allocation for RVS, varsity and intramural usage.

The City estimates that the new artificial turf field will re-open to the public in September 2024.

Last July, The City of Airdrie announced that the City Council had officially endorsed Ed Eggerer Athletic Park as the location for Airdrie’s new artificial turf field. A previous press release from the City stated that the Council reviewed the findings and recommendations of a report on the suitability of Ed Eggerer Athletic Park for the Football Canada and FIFA-sanctioned artificial turf field.

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