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Browns announce they are providing five Cleveland schools with synthetic turf

By Chris Pokorny
A photo of the new JMHS -- the football field would be way in the background under the big lights.
A photo of the new JMHS -- the football field would be way in the background under the big lights.

Monday afternoon, Cleveland Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam announced that the organization will refurbish five Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) fields over the next two years. The renovated fields will have synthetic turf.

According to the official team site, Jimmy said, "We're believers in education and hopefully this gift will encourage kids to play sports and excel in school." The Browns are set to maintain the fields as well, which will also include markings for soccer.

The following fields are scheduled to be renovated:

  • Roye Kidd Field (May 16 - August 2016) - home of JFK team
  • James F. Rhodes Field (May 23 - August 2016)
  • John Adams Field (2017)
  • John Marshall Field (2017)
  • Bump Taylor Field (timeline TBD) - home of Glenville and Collinwood teams

The news is particularly delightful for me, as an alumni of John Marshall High School (JMHS). JMHS tore down their old high school and re-built it last year, but the football field and surrounding track & field were left as a future project. According to the Plain Press, "the Ohio School Facilities Commission contributed 2/3 of the cost of construction of the new school building, but the State of Ohio would not allow funds to go toward a football field or track." I imagine this new initiative by the Browns will restore the football field at the very least.

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