UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The football field at Westinghouse Academy in Pittsburgh was in bad shape. Its surface was as hard as a kitchen floor, riddled with divots that posed serious injury risks to the young athletes. But thanks to the dedicated efforts of Penn State Extension educators and their network, this field has been transformed into a safe facility that promises to be a game-changer for the community.

Last summer, Michael White, who has a doctorate in education and was serving on the community vitality extension team, reached out to Jeff Fowler, a seasoned horticulture extension educator. “I’m trying to help out this community with a football field renovation,” White said. “I was wondering if you could take a look at it.”

Fowler didn’t hesitate. When Fowler arrived at Westinghouse Academy and met Coach Donta Green, he was struck by the coach’s commitment to his players. “His philosophy of turning these young men into responsible adults resonated with me,” Fowler said.

The project quickly became more than just another job. Fowler contacted Jeremy Thomas, a graduate of the turfgrass science program in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences and owner of Thomas ProTurf, who had always expressed a desire to contribute to meaningful community projects.

Thomas volunteered his time and equipment, committing two days to the project. “We couldn’t have done it without Jeremy,” Fowler said.

One major expense was the top-dressing, costing around $10,000. Thomas, scheduled to work for the Pittsburgh Steelers the week before, proposed using the sod and soil ground off the Steelers’ field for Westinghouse. With the help of another Penn State turfgrass alumnus, Steelers head groundskeeper Thomas Goyne, they secured the donation.

With materials and equipment in place, the team set to work in mid-October, racing against the clock to beat winter. “We were nervous about the timing, but it ended up being a mild fall, and we got good seed establishment and root growth,” Fowler said.

The renovation wasn’t just about aesthetics; it was crucial for safety. Fowler used a Clegg Impact Soil Tester to measure surface hardness. While the NFL requires field hardness to be under 85, the Westinghouse field initially measured 125, as hard as a kitchen floor.

“To make the field safe, we aerated it, top-dressed, overseeded and fertilized it,” Fowler said. “These steps reduced the hardness to below 85, creating a much safer surface for the kids to play and practice on.” This transformation addressed concerns about potential injuries, particularly head injuries, and provided a more forgiving surface for the athletes’ joints.

By spring, the field was in great shape and ready for use.

White, now on the 4-H team, highlighted the wider impact of the project.“We’re creating a collaboration between Pittsburgh Public Schools and 4-H to keep this going, ideally expanding it to another school next year,” he said.

The project, initially focused on the football team, also benefits gym classes and community activities on the field. Beyond the immediate improvements, it addresses fairness and opportunity.

“It’s about equity,” White said. “Many schools don’t face these issues. All children deserve a safe and decent field for sports and gym class. It feels good to support youth in a rough part of town who are trying to better themselves. That’s what we do at Extension — support their efforts. Anything we can do to show up and help is worthwhile.”

Involving 4-H brought an educational dimension to the project.

“Through camps funded by 4-H grants, we introduced youth to agriculture and jobs in turf management and robotics, such as robotic field painters and mowers,” White said.

Another 4-H educator, Matthew Crutchman, focused on positive youth development.

“Sports are not typically seen as part of 4-H, but they fit well with our initiatives,” he said. “We provided resources around mental health, character building and engaging activities.”

The project’s impact has been profound, the participants noted.

“Seeing youth from resource-stressed communities involved in tech-driven projects like this is incredible,” Crutchman said. “It opens up career pathways connected to their passions, such as the intersection of sports and precision agriculture.”

The community has supported their efforts, including residents, the athletics director, the principal, the Pittsburgh mayor and the superintendent of Pittsburgh Public Schools.

For Fowler, this project stands out among the many he has worked on.

“Seeing their faces and reactions to the transformation of their field, from dirt spots to a safe field to play on, has been the most rewarding part so far,” he said, pointing out that his aspirations don’t stop there. “If we could get a workforce development curriculum in place that allows young people to see sports turf management as a viable career, that would be the pinnacle for me.”

Reflecting on the project, Fowler emphasized the importance of relationships in his work as an extension educator.

“This project didn’t happen because we made a few phone calls or sent a few emails,” he said. “It was about the relationships with the contractor, the Steelers and the coach. This project shows that our work as extension educators is about relationships and connecting the dots, pointing people in the right direction when they need help.”