Rabbit Stadium gets amazing upgrade

Back in the mid-nineties when Atlanta Rabbit Stadium was first built one of the more noticeable and beautiful features was the pine trees surrounding the field.

Of course there were more considerable features when compared to the old Bivins-Trice Stadium but Atlanta Rabbit Stadium, also known as the Pine Bowl, has been in need of a new track upgrade for quite some time.

Why not? This is a school which boasts seven state championships in track and field, and for the Atlanta ISD to host meets a new track was essential.

One topic that has always been a hot debate is shedding the old grass field for a new turf playing surface.

A decision was made at some point to explore the possibilities of putting turf in place of the grass field and as of this past month Atlanta Rabbit Stadium has a new covering.

Crews worked through the summer to ensure the field would be ready for football season.

Atlanta AD Matt McClure talked about how the plan materialized and the need for one.

“Well you know turf has been talked about for some time obviously and I never thought it would happen. Even if it hadn’t it would have been okay because we had a really nice grass field,” McClure said. “But with all the rain we had last year we had to play some games in absolute downpours which gave the field such a beating.”

“I think the public and the school board and the administration looked and said that this is really bad and it stayed bad for a long time and we couldn’t practice down there during the playoffs, soccer had to reschedule games, it was bad during track season some,” Mc-Clure remarked. “It was just bad and it had been talked about so long that Mr. Harrist and the school board decided to act on it.”

McClure spoke about how the administration looked towards a common goal of what would be best, and just how great it will be in the long run.

“Mr. Harrist and the school board have done such a good job with our finances that it allowed us to have the opportunity to do it and it’s one of those deals people talk about but very few follow through,” McClure said. “I thought our school board along with Mr. Harrist stepped to the plate, pulled the trigger and got things rolling.”

“There have been fun aspects of it and what it entails but it could also be frustrating if the timing isn’t met or delays happen during construction,” McClure added. “I still get giddy when I drive down there and see the new turf because it’s beautiful. We already had a nice stadium with a great, intimate setting and with the turf down there it just makes it special.”

Rabbit Stadium with its backdrop of pines makes for a perfect place to play football and adding a field such as has been put down will make it that much more attractive to the eye.

As nice as it will be McClure mentioned the benefits of having a turf field for more than just football.

“I think when people see the field they will see it as a nice upgrade but it’s so much more than that. I think it’s going to affect so many kids in our school district from the band, to the football team, to the soccer and track teams,” McClure stated. “You have baseball and softball teams who can utilize it for ground balls when their fields are wet and when they possibly have to play on turf during the season. We can host the Special Olympics which has been in New Boston the past few years. I think there’s a lot of usage that you’re going to see come out of it.”

“It’s really going to benefit our school district and we have so many positive things going on here I think it will just add to it,” McClure continued.

Coach McClure mowed the field when it was needed and although the field was in pristine condition at times he admitted it was tough to combat different issues.

“We had some bouts with army worms and fought infestations of them three different times and that was frustrating. We had to keep it sprayed and keep people away for a period of time. There was always something to battle with the grass especially when it rained,” McClure said. “You know when I was asked if we want it ‘yeah’, do we need it ‘not necessarily’ but I think if we can financially afford it and there’s no issue there then let’s go ahead with the plan. We were going to have to sink money into it anyways to fix drainage problems and other issues we were having so why not look into it.”

All-in-all the company that upgrades tracks also installs turf fielding and with what the school was facing it seemed like the right thing to do.

“Obviously with the investment of the drainage system and redoing the track, which the track is pretty old itself, was just something that would be better plus we won’t have to reschedule high school and junior varsity games when it rains. With all of that combined it is going to make it a remarkable facility,” McClure said.

If you haven’t had a chance to see the field yet Atlanta hosts Gladewater this Friday night.

Come out, support the Rabbs and watch the team play on a superb new playing surface.