Work continues on Perryville High School’s football field and practice field, efforts that got underway earlier this summer after the fields were littered with broken glass and debris during the March 14 tornado.
All indicators point to the playing surface being ready by the Pirates’ first home game on Sept. 5.
“They tore out the grass on our high school football field and actually just laid the new sod,” said Perryville High School activities director Justin Dreyer. “We have it from end line to end line right now. We are tracking good on that. We should be good for week two, which is our first home game. We should be good.”
Dreyer shared the news with the Perry County School District 32 board during its regular meeting on August 13.
While the game field is progressing rapidly, the school’s practice facilities are lagging a bit behind.
“Our practice field inside of our track is getting ready to be torn up, and we’re getting new sod laid there as well,” Dreyer said. “The hope is it’s going to be roughly three weeks to a month behind the game field.”
In the meantime, things are a bit chaotic. “Right now, our football team is practicing at the Perryville Youth Football field over at City Park,” Dreyer said. “Our middle school football team is going to start practice on Sept. 18, and they’re going to actually be practicing in the outfield of our baseball field. We’re hoping to utilize our practice field inside the track by late September. But until then, our varsity football team is going to be practicing at the park.”
Pirates head football coach Brent Roth called it a “stressful time.”
“On me, at least,” Roth said. “I don’t know if it affects the kids too much. You get them on green grass or even brown grass — it doesn’t really matter — you get them out there, and the football is still the same size and they’re still wearing the same helmets. The game doesn’t change a whole lot, but yeah, it’s been stressful for me trying to get things aligned for practice.”
Complicating matters further, storage space is also affected.
“When you’re in three different locations and you don’t have all the same storage sheds and offices and stuff like that that you had in the past, it’s hard,” Roth said, “but I mean, it shouldn’t affect us in any way football-wise. It’s just a hurdle to jump over.”
Roth said he is eager to get back on campus, but acknowledged that this fall’s challenges have also produced some interesting moments, especially at the PYF field.
“I’ll definitely be ready to get back on campus,” Roth said, adding that he hopes to be able to start moving equipment soon.
“But having all the Perryville football players from third grade all the way to 12th grade all out in the same field, it was pretty cool to see. It worked out well.”
In June, Perry County School District laid out its plans regarding the school’s football fields in an effort to make them safe for players and spectators.
“We’re pleased to share that our insurance provider has approved funding for important improvements to both the football playing field and the lower practice field,” said Superintendent Dr. Fara Jones in a news release. “This upgrade will enhance the safety and quality of our athletic facilities for students, staff, and the community.
“As part of the insurance-approved plan, the work will include stripping the existing field surface, replacing the irrigation system, laser grading for proper drainage and leveling, and applying fresh sod grass to both fields. These steps will result in a safer, more durable playing surface for all activities. This work could also lead to future developments in the area, as part of a long-range plan.”
Jones said that, despite efforts by staff and volunteers, there have been ongoing concerns about the potential presence of glass and other debris embedded in the field surface.
“While volunteers and our team have worked diligently to clean and inspect these areas, remnants of glass still exist on the sidelines, sidewalks, and bleacher areas,” Jones said. “Out of an abundance of caution — and in coordination with our insurance provider — we are taking proactive measures to ensure no safety risks remain. These improvements reflect the district’s ongoing commitment to student safety and our pride in providing high-quality, well-maintained facilities for practices, games, and school events.”
