New Sports Surface Puts Spring in Step for High School Athletes

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A new synthetic turf installation at Highland High School is expected to save Albuquerque Public Schools $16,000 per year in maintenance costs.

The $1 million project will replace the school’s existing interior track with Mondoturf, a synthetic playing surface similar to natural grass, which will be used by Highland’s soccer and football programs.

The synthetic surface will help eliminate injuries and accidents that can occur because of overuse of grass by the end of a sports season, officials say. Due to its resilience, it will also provide a realistic ball bounce, without risk of growing hot from use — a potential side effect of other synthetic surfaces, such as reground-tire fields.

Mondoturf is composed of a polymer fibers and Ecofill, a polyolefin-based infill designed to resemble natural earth.

The new surface will help the school reduce field maintenance costs, including irrigation, weed control and other repairs. The project is scheduled for completion in September.