Lately, some have said the turf has become lopsided and that there is a bump in the track. WHS Athletic Director Heath Rollins explains how there was a settling issue on the track, and Rollins believes that people had changed to the story over time, and that is why there were different rumors going around.

“I did have several people come up with rumors that the field was tipped to one side and all that, but that is not correct,” Rollins said “It was probably someone who heard something about the settling, and [the story] blew up and got changed.”

The Wayland School Committee agreed in spring 2019 to the renovation of the Wayland turf field, track, tennis courts and basketball courts. The project started in April and was scheduled to be a six-month project. The renovation included remodeling the turf fields, track and bleachers. It also included moving the tennis courts from behind the bleachers into the front of the school and moving the outside basketball courts from the front of the school to the back of the school.

While the track company was putting down the turf, the company had to have a machine come in and flatten it. Because the machine is so big, it missed an edge of the track and caused a settling issue. Because of this, Rollins had to bring the tracking company back in from Georgia so that they could fix it. The school wouldn’t pay for the track until it was issue-free.

“There was some settling issue in the tight corners – [the company] uses a big vibratory roller, but it can’t get tight in the corners with that, and so there was a little settling,” Rollins said.“That is a minor, four-hour fix, but we do have the bring the company back out from Georgia. If it’s not perfect we don’t sign off [and] we don’t pay them, so [the company] has to come back and fix it.”

Overall, the last step will be the tennis courts, which may be completed in April 2020.

“They put the final topcoat on the tennis courts last week, but that has to cure for 20 days before they can paint. And, depending on the weather, we could have a nice stretch in December where they are able to paint that, or [else] they’ll have to do in March [or] April when the weather is nicer,” Rollins said.

Rollins is excited about the new bleachers and press box, hoping that they will stand out compared to their predecessors. Rollins is also excited about the shape of the turf. The contractors have to keep the track the same length, but the contractors can play with the shape to maximize the actual amount of turf.

“There is more than an acre of extra turf,” Rollins said.

Rollins is confident that the contractors are on schedule and hopes the whole complex will be done in early April. The project is in its final stages, and the construction fences will be gone soon.

“It was supposed to be a six-month project, and we’re right on schedule. Everything is getting done, and it’s being done right,” Rollins said. “We hope to soon have people walk through the stands and the press box and have everyone know what has been going on for the past six months.”