Mount de Sales Academy to get new field

CATONSVILLE, Md. (WMAR) - Ripken Design and FIELDS, INc., announced today plans to install a new state-of-the-art synthetic athletic field at Mount de Sales Academy in Catonsville.

The new 80,614-square-foot field will be made of AstroTurf XPe synthetic turf. The field will be used for soccer, lacrosse, softball and field hockey games, as well as physical education classes.

It will also include hillside bleacher seating and a visitor's plaza. Officials are expecting the new and only all turf high school field in the Baltimore-metropolitan area to be completed by August 2012.

"We are proud to be working with Mount de Sales Academy to create an innovative field that will help maximize student programming and athletic competition," said Jim Arnold, Director of Projects at Ripken Design. "The high-quality playing surface will allow for year-round usage and is designed to keep maintenance needs to a minimum."

The prior field was constructed in 1981 and only served lacrosse and field hockey games. The new facility will now serve all team sports at the 160-year-old academy.