Jordan Barela/Times-Enterprise Shown is a sample portion of the synthetic turf that will be installed at Veterans Stadium. 

THOMASVILLE — The grass soon will be synthetically greener for Thomasville City Schools. 

Renovations to Veterans Stadium are underway and are set to take place in two phases. The first phase includes installation of synthetic turf, bathroom renovations, and handicap access seating. 

The stadium is undergoing preparation for the turf installation, according to Hank Townsend, Thomasville City Schools director of operations. 

“It’s going to be top-notch as far as the field goes,” Townsend said. 

The preparation process, which will last four weeks, includes removing the old turf and a layer of top soil. Concrete curbing around the field’s perimeter and drainage will be installed, along with compact layers of coarse ground and fine ground granite. 

“That’s to fasten the turf to,” Townsend said of the curbing. 

Padding will then be installed, followed by the turf. 

Turf installation will take two weeks to complete. 

The field also will be composed of a rubber infill, made from recycled tires in America, which is equipped with a cooling system. 

“The maintenance is very minimal on these kinds of fields,” Townsend said. “The field will be groomed after every game to take out any in-field displacement.” 

The turf will have an eight-year warranty and the average lifespan of a synthetic turf field is between 10-13 years, Townsend noted. 

Projected savings from the installation of the turf — a total expenditure of $653,546 — is expected to occur following the eight-year warranty. The shift to synthetic turf would save in annual maintenance costs, which typically run between $80,000-85,000 for a natural field, Townsend said. 

A total of $1.65 million in special purpose local options sales tax (SPLOST) funds has been designated for the stadium project. 

The field, once complete, will include the city school system colors and logo. The initial rendering of the stadium included a different shade of gold, which was later changed. 

“Everything that’s gold on that field will be Douglass gold,” Townsend said. 

The completion deadline for the first phase is July 31. 

The second phase of the project, which includes the press boxes, fencing, entry way and ticket booth on Jackson Street, among others, will begin after the 2017 football season. 

Work during the second phase would not affect sporting activities, Townsend said.  

Townsend added he believes the stadium project will be a “focal point” for the city schools and City of Thomasville once it is finished.