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The new artificial turf installation is under way at the Salem Lions football field. The Salem School Board approved the turf and a new press box at their January 18 meeting.
The turf field costs $1.7 million and the press box $481,413.
The field is named after Jim Ralston, who was the coach from 1977 to 1996. After that Ralston was principal at the high school, retired, and then was brought back as the elementary school principal. He was instrumental in the lives of many and just a huge part of the community.
The official dedication will be Friday, August 9.
Coach Ralston was there last Saturday with about 20 ex-football players when he found out the field was named in his honor.
The Hellas construction company wanted to do the field as a showcase to other high schools and adjusted the price to reflect that. They had the Indiana University football field in their portfolio along with the indoor and outdoor fields for Indiana Colts and Lucas Oil Stadium, but had never installed a turf field for a high school.
Hank Weedin, the Salem High School athletic director, gave an insight to the installation process. First a lot of dirt is removed and crushed rock is put down and leveled out. There is a drainage system under the field allowing the field to be used after a rain storm. Rubber pads are then installed to absorb the shock. The tuff is put down and stretched like carpet.
It may look finished now put a special fine pea gravel is placed over the gravel. Then very small rubber pellets are applied, which allows the turf material to stand up.The field is brushed with a sweeper every 40 hours. Once a year the Hellas Company will return and brush the field again and address any issues.
There are also new goal posts and an area for broad jump and pole vaulting.
Salem High is in partnership with the Indianapolis Colts. The football players will be there August 23 and on October 18 with the cheerleaders. Salem High School is one of the five schools that the Colts will visit.
The press box will not be installed in October – November so it will not interfere with the football season.
Weedin said “It’s expensive but the field is more versatile. The field will be used for band invitationals, soccer teams besides football. The soccer team will enjoy the restrooms, lighting and concession stand that they don’t have at their present location. This is definitely a show class for Salem.”
Weedin also pointed out the nice aluminum grandstands that were donated by Jack and Marcia Huckleberry, and Don and Ruth Huckleberry on Sept. 11, 1987. It was dedicated in memory of Roy and Gladys Huckleberry and their son Dale.
Another bit of history can be found behind the ball diamond. It’s the old pedestrian bridge that use to be at the Salem Speedway and now provides a path across Brock Creek. The bridge was removed from the speedway in 1977 by speedway owner at that time, Sherman Armstrong.