The Watauga County Board of Education has awarded a contract to convert Watauga High School’s natural grass baseball field to synthetic turf, with the new field expected to double as the home venue for the school’s girls flag football program.
Mooresville-based GeoSurfaces was selected as the contractor. The board’s resolution pointed to the firm’s technical specifications, safety standards, record on regional projects, and ability to deliver the job turnkey. The stated case for the conversion was familiar to anyone working in the high-country climate: fewer weather cancellations, lower long-term maintenance spend, and capacity for a growing girls’ athletics program.
The district set a $1.3 million ceiling during its RFQ process, according to reporting by the Watauga Democrat. A final price will follow once the district and contractor settle on a turf system. Funding is capital-restricted, with a significant share drawn from insurance proceeds tied to flood damage at the former Valle Crucis School.
Assistant Superintendent Chris Blanton said the baseball field was chosen over softball for a straightforward reason: the outfield is large enough to fit a flag football field, and the softball outfield is not. He indicated turf for softball remains a goal for a future phase. The project is not expected to be finished in time for the inaugural flag football season, but the district anticipates completion before baseball season.
Why it matters for suppliers:
North Carolina sanctioned girls flag football as a championship sport, and most districts have no purpose-built field for it. Watauga’s solution – turfing an existing diamond so one surface serves two sports – is a template other districts with limited land and limited budgets are likely to copy. Expect multi-sport justification language to show up more often in diamond turf RFQs, and expect softball conversions to follow as second-phase work.
About GeoSurfaces:
GeoSurfaces, a TenCate company, designs and installs synthetic turf fields and running tracks across the US, with a Southeast office at 150 River Park Road, Mooresville, NC 28117.
Planning a diamond conversion or a multi-sport field?
Visit the GeoSurfaces website for more information.
