GREENE – In high school football, every home win is a big one. But for the Greene Trojans, Friday night’s victory over their Whitney Point rivals had special significance: It marked the team’s first contest on Greene Central School’s newly-completed artificial turf playing field.
“It was awesome,” recalled Superintendent Jonathan Retz, commenting that not even the chill in the fall air detracted from the much-anticipated experience of seeing the Trojans take to the new field for the first time. Especially since it took place earlier than expected.
“The original plan called for the completion of the field in the beginning of September,” reported Retz, but construction setbacks due to drainage issues and heavy summer rains pushed back the project’s completion date to the beginning of October. As the sports teams, which had expected to use the field, made other arrangements for practices and early season “home” games at other facilities, fingers were crossed that the field would be ready in time for Homecoming on Oct. 9.
Not wanting to take any chances, the superintendent worked with the contractors to see if things could be “speeded up.”
“Due to the efforts of all the parties involved, work progressed at an accelerated pace,” Retz said. And at approximately noon on Friday, following final inspections and walk-throughs, the field was officially turned over.
The superintendent gave special thanks to Tetra Tech Architects and Engineers, Ross Wilson Associates, Inc., Smith Site Development and Sportexe for getting the field ready for its debut earlier than expected.
Because of the timing of the turnover, coming just hours before the scheduled football game, teams did not have the opportunity to practice on the field prior to the game. That didn’t stop them from prevailing over their opponents 26-14.
While the football team scored the first win on the field, they won’t be the only Greene sport to make use of it. 
“This facility will be used for field hockey, football and soccer events,” the superintendent reported. “We will schedule both practice time and games for each of these sports.”
 Other groups, such as pee-wee football, will still have to make alternative arrangements for at least the next few months, according to Retz.
“While we know everyone is excited and looking forward to utilizing this beautiful new facility, the details involved in the proper use and maintenance of this type of field require that we take a gradual and systematic approach to establish procedures for its use,” he explained. “This is necessary to ensure that this facility is maintained in top notch shape for years to come.”
According to District Office Staff Member Theresa Brandt, the school district will celebrate the field’s completion on Friday, Oct. 9.
“A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 6:50 p.m., prior to the kickoff of the Homecoming football game against Sidney,” she explained.
Homecoming Weekend itself will kick off the day prior to the game, with a pep rally for students at the high school on Thursday, Oct. 8.
On Friday, the festivities will begin with the annual Homecoming Parade, which will depart at 5 p.m. from the Middle/High School and proceed North on South Canal Street to Genesee Street and then back to the campus via South Chenango Street. Floats will remain on display during the game, according to Brandt, and during halftime, a golf ball drop will take place to benefit the Greene Dollars for Scholars program.
The weekend’s final event, the Homecoming dance, will take place on Saturday night in the high school gym.
Brandt cautioned that, due to continued construction on South Canal Street and at the Middle/High School campus, traffic and parking continues to be limited. She urged those planning to attend events during Homecoming weekend to “consider alternate parking” options.