Turf on the ticket again for Red Hook
After failing in May, voters in the Red Hook School District will once again vote on three capital improvement propositions, including whether to upgrade the school’s athletic facilities to an artificial turf field, during a special referendum on Tuesday, October 22, 2024.
“The newly created propositions include projects that were part of an all-encompassing proposition declined by voters in May,” the district noted. “Those projects are split into two propositions for the October ballot, with additional verbiage stipulating a proposed artificial turf multipurpose field can only be constructed using materials that are recyclable and do not include intentionally added forever chemicals. A third proposal introduces a new grass field restoration project on separate field space from where the turf would be installed.”
Proposition 1 includes replacing the high school’s gym’s floor and bleachers – both original from the school’s 1963 opening – plus new LED lighting in the high school and middle school, upgrading and expanding the air conditioning at Mill Road, “expanding ease of access to the lockdown system in each school,” and repairing the four front columns of the Linden Avenue building. The first proposition would cost roughly $7.835 million, of which taxpayers would be responsible for $2.79 million, according to RHSCD.
Proposition 2 includes the renovation of the main athletic field between the middle and high school to create “a multipurpose artificial turf space, which would include new lighting installation, a resurfacing of its track and repairs to perimeter fencing.”
The proposition requires the field to be constructed “with recyclable materials” and “without the use of intentionally added PFAS,” according to district officials. “Previous propositions asking voters to approve an artificial turf field project did not include language promising the inclusion of such environmentally friendly materials, but advancements in the turf technology and increased awareness around the industry have made it possible for the district to do so.” The passage of proposition 2 would cost roughly $7.67 million, of which taxpayers would be responsible for $2.73 million.
Proposition 3 would allow for the renovation of two of the five grass fields (other than the main athletic field) shared by middle and high school students. The passage of proposition 3 would cost roughly $5.475 million, of which taxpayers would be responsible for approximately $1.95 million with the maximum application of state aid.
The passage of Propositions 2 and 3 are dependent on the passage of Proposition 1.
Voting will be open on Tuesday, October 22, 2024 from noon to 9pm in the Red Hook High School Performing Arts atrium. Anyone registered to vote in the Red Hook Central School District boundaries is eligible to vote.
Advertisement:
Instead of flooding this page with ads, leave us a tip or shop our local makers if you liked this information.
Community events happening throughout the Hudson Valley region of New York. Add an event to the HVNY calendar at hvny.info/share-your-event