New Turf, Track For New Hope-Solebury To Open In October

NEW HOPE, PA — The New Hope-Solebury School District is nearing the finish line on a new track and turf field installation project, scheduled to be completed in early October.

A critical resource for the district's athletics program, which has a more than 60 percent student participation rate, the new track and turf field will host physical education courses, conditioning for most athletic teams, and practices and competitions for the district's lacrosse, soccer, field hockey, football, and track teams.

The original track was installed in 2004 with funds from the New Hope-Solebury Community Association. District resources were used for the associated needs, including lighting, a PA system, drainage requirements, and bleachers. Additional public funds were not utilized again until 2019, when a short-term solution was attempted to address cracks and gaps in the track’s surface.

An independent evaluation conducted in 2020 determined that foundational damage and cracked
surfaces would present ongoing safety concerns for student athletes. Following a short-term solution that provided additional time for deliberation, the school district had to choose to either demolish the track and disband these athletic teams or install a completely new surface.

“It became apparent that our fields were lacking for a myriad of reasons," said school board member Deirdre Alderfer, who chairs the district's facilities committee. "We heard countless testimony from students and parents about the need to be competitive in our league, and to do so, we needed a comparable playing field. We also considered the burden placed on our families. Student-athletes lost hours needed for homework and additional study because they were required to travel to other fields for practice. Our Booster Clubs had to pay ongoing facility rental costs."

Ultimately, the Board of School Directors approved a comprehensive renovation project, including the installation of a new track, turf field, and concrete walkways.

The turf field will address persistent drainage issues that have caused numerous game cancellations. The concrete walkways are also designed to make the field more accessible for those with disabilities.

“We are delighted to see this revitalization of our athletics facilities come to fruition — this is a project that has been a vision for this district for nearly twenty years," said Superintendent Charles W. Lentz. "The excitement and anticipation are palpable. We hope this new resource will be inspiring for our athletes, our students, and our entire community."

The public is invited to a celebration and formal ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 29 at 6:30 p.m. on the New Hope-Solebury High School Stadium Field.

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