Dacula High Stadium Gets Artificial Turf, Other Improvements

DACULA, GA — If the Dacula Falcons play football this fall, they will play their home games in a spruced-up stadium with artificial turf.

The company Sprinturf already has started preparing to replace the grass in Dacula High School’s stadium with its artificial turf, according to Ed Shaddix, athletic director for Gwinnett County Public Schools. The job is expected to be completed in July.

At the same time, the visitors’ side of the stadium will be replaced with stands that are “more modern and safer,” Shaddix said. The stadium will also get a new track.

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With students out and no graduation ceremony scheduled because of the coronavirus pandemic, the work should be completed “well in advance of any competitions,” Shaddix said. “We anticipate no issues.”

Dacula is one of five Gwinnett County schools replacing grass with artificial turf at its stadiums. The other four are Central Gwinnett in Lawrenceville, Collins Hill in Suwanee, Meadowcreek in Norcross and Mill Creek in Hoschton. The stadium work is being financed through the use of general obligation bonds approved by nearly 80 percent of those who voted in a 2018 referendum.

Duluth High School and South Gwinnett High in Snellville already have artificial turf in their stadiums, installed in time for last year's football season.

Given the need for social distancing to reduce spread of the coronavirus, will there even be a football season in 2020? “Goodness, I hope so,” Shaddix said.

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