Lincoln-Way Central Auxiliary Field to Get $463,875 Artificial Turf Upgrade

Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 Meeting | April 16, 2026

Article Summary: The Board of Education approved the purchase of artificial turf from FieldTurf USA for $463,875.62, which will be installed on the auxiliary field at Lincoln-Way Central as part of the district’s ongoing summer site improvements.

Turf Purchase Key Points:

• The Board selected the FieldTurf Vertex Core 2.5″ artificial turf system over a competing product from TenCate Grass.

• The $463,875.62 purchase is being made through the Sourcewell cooperative purchasing program and fits within the previously budgeted $4.5 million capital projects transfer.

• Administrators prioritized the FieldTurf product due to its superior GMAX rating of 83, which offers better shock absorption and enhanced safety for football athletes.

The Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 Board of Education on Thursday, April 16, 2026, unanimously approved a $463,875.62 contract with FieldTurf USA, Inc. to provide and install a new artificial turf surface for the auxiliary field at Lincoln-Way Central.

The turf purchase represents the final component of a larger site improvement initiative. In March, the Board awarded the overarching summer 2026 site improvements bid to Henry Brothers, which included paving, tennis courts, and field events. However, the turf portion of that bid was delayed due to a discrepancy in the bid specifications between the district’s architect, the contractors, and the manufacturers.

To resolve the issue, district administration pursued a direct cooperative purchase through Sourcewell, requesting quotes and specifications from two major providers: FieldTurf and TenCate Grass.

Assistant Superintendent Michael Duback presented the evaluation rubric to the Board, noting that while both companies offered viable solutions, safety metrics ultimately drove the recommendation.

A primary factor was the GMAX score, which measures surface hardness and shock absorption. A lower score indicates a softer, safer landing surface. According to the district’s evaluation, recent installations of the FieldTurf product yielded a GMAX score of 83, while the TenCate product scored 127.

“To bring TenCate’s GMAX to a comparable level with FieldTurf, we felt a shock pad or additional decompaction services were going to be needed, which would then drive its cost also higher than FieldTurf,” Duback explained.

While TenCate’s base price was lower at $439,300, the added costs to meet safety standards made the $463,875 FieldTurf option the better value. Additionally, the FieldTurf system utilizes a patented mixed infill of sand and cryo rubber, which the district believes provides a more consistent playing experience.

“The advancements they’ve made in the technology over the last 10 years are remarkable,” Superintendent Dr. Scott Tingley added. “But to Mike’s point, that GMAX, for as much football as we play in our area, it just makes more sense to have that higher rating for both our use and the youth programs that will be practicing there.”

The cost of the turf is fully covered within the $4.5 million capital projects budget previously allocated for this summer’s site improvements.