It’s an all or nothing proposition, said Mike Bull, a member of the Olentangy Turf Committee.

The committee, formed in 2010, wants to raise enough money to install artificial turf on the football fields of all three Olentangy high schools.

The scope of the project is all for one or none for any, Bull told the school board Feb. 9.

The turf committee — a large group of parents, coaches, athletic directors and boosters and music boosters from each high school — had hoped to have the fields in by August 2012, but funding is coming in slower than anticipated, Bull said.

The committee has been raising funds to pay for the fields, estimated to cost $600,000 each or $1.8 million total.

To date, the committee has raised $300,000 of in-kind contributions from construction and landscaping vendors, $77,000 from local businesses and $462,000 of committed booster funds, Bull said. That totals $839,000. The boosters plan to contribute $900,000 to the project.

Bull said the committee is looking into getting a loan and asked the school district to pay $600,000 to the project, which cannot move forward without a district contribution. Board members said they would discuss the issue.

Turf will save the district about $25,400 annually in field maintenance supplies alone, Bull said.

Artificial fields last about 10 years, Bull told ThisWeek. He said the committee would continue to raise funds for future replacement.

Such fields offer a variety of benefits, he said. They reduce injuries, can be used in all weather conditions and often provide revenue by being rented for other events.

Head coach for Orange High School boys varsity lacrosse, Sean McGinnis, told ThisWeek, “Turf fields would showcase the community via regional and state playoffs. It would be a community asset used by youth and middle school programs, which would in turn, benefit varsity programs.”

Liberty High School varsity lacrosse player Connor Bull said, “Turf fields are safer to play and because the surface is consistent. They are more predictable.”

Orange High School varsity lacrosse player, Abby Sturmi said, “Turf fields make the game faster. It would also help prevent injuries since there would be no mud to contend with.”

For more information, visit www.turfforolentangy.com or call (614) 551-4167.