Photo by Michael Erb Crews began installing new artificial turf Thursday at Parkersburg High School Stadium Field. The first home football game is scheduled for Aug. 31, but officials say other groups should begin playing games on the field as early as Aug. 27.

PARKERSBURG — Crews delivered about 26 rolls of artificial turf Thursday to Parkersburg High School Stadium Field, with installation expected to take about 10 days.

The turf replacement is one of several athletic facility renovation projects in Wood County Schools this year. PHS Stadium Field Committee President Pat McFarland said officials hope to have the new turf fully in place by Aug. 26. Installation began Thursday.

The first home football game for the Big Reds is Aug. 31, but the first game scheduled on the new turf will be a junior varsity game on Aug. 27, followed by a soccer game Aug. 28.

The new turf was delivered in two shipments Thursday, with each roll weighing more than 1,200 pounds, as well as thousands of pounds of sand and rubber infill, which will be used to finish the field.

“They’ll lay it all out and then stitch the field together,” McFarland said. “Unless it is a torrential downpour, that part can still be done if it rains. The infill, however, has to be during a dry time. Rain would make the sand into mud and it wouldn’t go down correctly, so we do need a dry day for that.”

Photo by Michael Erb Parkersburg High School Stadium Field’s east bleachers, which have been closed since 2012 due to safety issues, received a fresh coat of paint this summer, and PHS Stadium Field Committee President Pat McFarland said the letters PHS will be added to the sections to make it more presentable. McFarland said while those stands will remain closed until the committee can raise about $1.5 million to demolish and rebuild them, the paint will help brighten the entire stadium.

McFarland said this summer the east side bleachers, which have been closed since 2012, were repainted white with red steps. He hopes to add large PHS letters to the bleachers as well.

Though the east side bleachers will still not be open, McFarland said the paint will brighten the entire stadium. McFarland said the committee has begun collecting donations for the demolition and rebuilding of the bleachers, a project which is estimated to cost about $1.5 million.

“We’re hoping the new paint will help restore some pride and get some of those big donations rolling in,” he said.

Photo by Michael Erb Rolls of artificial turf, each weighing more than 1,200 pounds, were delivered to Parkersburg High School Stadium Field Thursday, as well as bags of sand and rubber infill, which will be used to finish out the field. Officials hope to have everything installed by Aug. 26.

Image Provided A rendering of Parkersburg High School Stadium Field shows what the field will look like when crews have finished laying new artificial turf. Officials say they hope to have work completed by Aug. 26.