by Brent Hovey

Reporter

Aurora -- The Greenmen could have brand new artificial turf on the Veterans Stadium field for the 2008 season, without the school district spending any money on it.

A new citizens group -- Greenman Pride -- has formed to improve Veterans Stadium. It is non-profit and separate from the school district.

The group already has raised $300,000 in six weeks through personal donations. Total cost of the turf will be about $600,000.

"It's flying," said George Balog, one of the leaders of the group. "It's going to happen this year. We've literally gone to just six or seven people and got them to donate."

The natural grass as Veterans Stadium has taken a beaten, especially the last two years. Last summer, the city and schools joined together to replace the grass in the middle of the field between the 20-yard lines.

But the wear and tear on the grass from all the competitiions has taken its toll.

Initially, Balog said he and co-organizer John Wells thought the 2009 season was a realistic goal. But efforts have picked up and he said it is realistic to get the turf installed this year.

"We have more than half the funds and we haven't even gone out to the community yet," said Balog. "If we can get the community behind it, $300,000 isn't a large amount to raise. Things are happening quickly."

Balog said backers went about it differently than a previous group formed about two years ago for the same purpose. Its efforts fell short because it asked for too much from citizens right away, Balog added.

"THE THOUGHT was, if we got some of the right people behind it and had more money up front, we'd have the firepower to make it happen," he said.

"That's exactly what happened. Instead of having 25 people on a committee, we got four or five people involved and it was easier to collaborate on ideas and plan things out."

When artificial turf was discussed before, Balog said the previous committee picked out a surface from Pro Grass.

Since Balog is a childhood friend of the guy who runs Pro Grass, the committee decided to stick with Pro Grass.

In return, Pro Grass has guaranteed Balog they it can do the work in time for the 2008 football season.

Installation could begin June 1 and be completed by Aug. 1, barring a major glitch in fundraising efforts.

A fundraiser is being planned at the high school, but no details are available yet. Serpentini Chevrolet donated a 2009 Malibu to be raffled off, with all proceeds going to the turf fund.

Balog said the committee hopes other businesses will follow Serpentini's lead.

Naming rights for the field is another option, Balog said. If someone wants to donate $250,000, the field would be named after him or her, but the overall facility still will be called Veterans Stadium.

The schools have nothing to do with the fundraising effort, and no public money will be used for the project, according to Balog.

He said before the group started the campaign, they went to Superintendent Russ Bennett for the district's blessing, as well as that of soccer head coaches Chris Gentille and Jason Bibza and football coach Bob Mihalik.

"IT'S WONDERFUL that this group is devoting its efforts and finances to improving school facilities, especially since the Board of Education could not ask, nor expect, the taxpayers to fund such a project," said School Board President Jerry Kohanski.

"This type of civic-minded altruism bespeaks the excellent community spirit that is present in the Aurora community."

The artificial turf is Phase 1 of several planned phases.

The field is being targeted in year one, with plans for more seating on both the home and visitors sides, a concession stand and restrooms on the visitors side and locker rooms under the home bleachers as future additions.

"When it's all said and done, the benefits to the youth are immeasurable," said Balog. "The field will be used non-stop and there is no major maintenance. It's a no brainer."

The Greenmen football team enters the 2008 season with high expectations.

It will have quite a few players returning from last fall's 9-2 team that won the district's third straight Chagrin Valley Conference title and made the playoffs.

Mihalik has already made it clear that a state championship is the goal.

Aurora's season-opening game against Avon has been moved to Aug. 21, a Thursday to be televised on Fox SportsNet Ohio.

The Greenmen will get to show off their talented team and hopefully a brand new field, too.

E-mail: bhovey@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3115