The first project funded by the $11 million bond issue approved by voters in April to be completed is the turf-surfaced practice field.

It was built for an accepted bid of $838,860 from Midwest Synthetic Turf Professionals. That bid includes $94,860 for a pad underneath the turf designed to lessen the chance of injury, especially concussion. A similar pad cushions the Cardinal Stadium turf.

The practice field is the size of a regulation soccer field that is marked as two shortened football fields.

It is meant to relieve crowded practices on the stadium field. Middle school physical education courses can also be taught there.