The Garfield Heights City Schools will receive a high-quality synthetic turf as part of a major donation from the Cleveland Browns and the Haslam and Johnson Families, who comprise its ownership team, and where this past Friday, March 15th, a special groundbreaking was hosted. As part of the Browns commitment to education as well as youth and high school football, the organization will install ForeverLawn high-quality synthetic turf in association with Ohio Cat at the high school this spring.
The GHCS will be the 15th field surface provided to Ohio schools and communities by the Browns, courtesy of the Haslam and Johnson families as well as Browns Give Back, since the team’s long-term field initiative launched eight years ago in May 2016.
“The Garfield Heights City Schools has a motto, and that is Every child… Every day… TOGETHER,” said GHCS Superintendent Dr. Richard D. Reynolds, “This project, along with the generosity of the Cleveland Browns and Haslam Sports Group, gives us all the opportunity to experience the power of what TOGETHER truly means. This field turf will empower and enrich not only our students, but our community for generations to come.”
Several representatives from the Cleveland Browns were in attendance to speak to the gathering of several hundred students, staff, elected officials, and community stakeholders, including Browns Head Coach Kevin Stefanski.
“We are thrilled to have officially broken ground on our 15th field surface project here at Garfield Heights High School and provide this great resource for the community,” said Cleveland Browns Executive Vice President and Partner JW Johnson. “This new field will not only enhance the student-athletes’ playing experience but also the development and growth of the students, athletes, and provide residents of Garfield Heights with a place to learn and play.”
A primary focus of the Browns’ field project is to offer youth educational tools through “outdoor classrooms,” which offer opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities that support attendance, school engagement and overall personal growth. The construction of the project at Garfield Heights High School is expected to be completed by the start of the 2024 fall sports season.
Garfield Heights City School District has been a partner of the Stay in the Game! Attendance Network since 2021 and is committed to improving school attendance. Student engagement is a driver of student attendance, and through the installation of the new turf field at Garfield Heights High School, the district aims to create engagement opportunities to help students get excited to attend school every day. ForeverLawn, which is the Official Synthetic Turf Partner of the Cleveland Browns, is a premium synthetic turf provider based out of Louisville, Ohio. It will provide high-performance synthetic turf from its SportsGrass line of products for the Garfield Heights HS renovation in association with Ohio Cat, as well as future sites selected by Browns Give Back.
All of the new fields created through the program are lined for multiple sports, including but not limited to football and soccer, and serve as a resource to further engage athletes and students in their respective districts and programs. Given the stability of the surface and less maintenance needed compared to natural grass, the fields are also more readily available year-round to youth and community groups.