BLOOMINGTON, MN—As they say, “if you build it they will come.” Those words echoed loudly as The Toro Company and the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) Sports Turf Committee descended on ELCO high school in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania to help renovate the school’s softball field.
The renovations were completed in one day with the help of everyone involved. Administrators, coaches, and players partnered with Toro, the NIAAA and the ELCO grounds crew to tackle the task of creating a safe, playable field. “It was a team effort from start to finish to help renovate this ball field,” said Dale Getz, CSFM, at The Toro Company.
The renovations included leveling and resurfacing the infield, aerating the outfield and applying topdressing to the turf. Turf Equipment and Supply Company, the local Toro distributor, provided Toro equipment for the project. The Toro ProCore 648, Toro Dingo compact utility loader, mid-duty Workman, and heavy-duty Workman were used to achieve the necessary results for the restoration project.
The NIAAA selects a school every year for their annual field renovation project. The softball field at ELCO High School in Pennsylvania was chosen as the 2008 renovation from applicants all over the nation. The athletic director, Doug Bohannon, submitted the ELCO softball field. Bohannon wanted to use the opportunity to demonstrate to school board officials and community members the importance of maintaining and providing safe athletic fields for students.