Arlington’s recent winter storm has had lasting effects at our school. Although custodians have done their best to combat the excessive snow, they’ve been unsure where to dump it. This has left heaps of stubborn snowpacks on every street. The same problem goes for our field, as it has been undergoing recent construction. Therefore, not only is our field itself unusable, but it’s also covered in immense snow piles. This will pose issues, especially for spring sports coming up.
Our field has been with us through hundreds of soccer games, field hockey tryouts and Friday night football games. It’s safe to say the turf has handled its fair share of wear and tear over the past years, and it is due for a remodel. The design consists of new synthetic turf and marking paints. The field must first be fully stripped and replaced with new infill, then the new layer and markings can be built on. In fact, they’re installing a few brand new markings like a mid-field logo and end zone lettering. The soccer goals, field goals and corner flags will also be replaced: in other words, a very hefty process predicted to last three to four months.
Although the end goal is beneficiary to students, it’s currently impacting parking. Many students use the North Greenbrier street hill, next to the fenced off field, for parking spots in the mornings. However, they’re now restricted from utilizing those spaces, and if students or staff take those spots, they’ll be fined. This is due to the fact that the workers on the field need this area for their own equipment, and synthetic turf is imported and exported onto vehicles here. This has posed several conflicts for students who drive to and from school, forcing many to leave earlier for school.
During this parking crisis came a new issue: the snow. As workers were entering the middle stages of the field’s construction, the winter storm forced them to halt, and their process has been stationary since. The old parking problems are little competition compared to this stubborn snow, which has left little room for cars throughout all neighborhood roads. But parking isn’t the only problem with this construction delay: sports teams, especially for the spring season, have faced challenges.
For example, many students at our school fill their schedules in the spring with athletics and sports. The spring track season in particular holds the most students out of any season here. However, the coaches decided this year’s season must be delayed due to our snow and track troubles.
For many students the track season is a significant part of their high school experience, integrated into the high school culture, and it’s disappointing for it to be cut short. For others, the track season structures their training schedule, and without it their training must change.
Take sophomore Molly Hardwick, who’s not only a part of the Virginia High School League (VHSL) all-state Girls Cross Country team, but also a blazing track star, winning the 4×800 in Liberty Districts in the 2025 season. Safe to say she spends much of her time on our track.
“The snow definitely impacted my training because I can’t do the same workouts. I’ve been running on the treadmill for about two weeks straight,” Hardwick said.
However, the runners aren’t the only ones affected by limited space, especially during the indoor season.
“We had to do workouts in a little chunk of the neighborhood. I think it’s hard for the coaches to keep track of everybody and make sure everyone’s improving, getting their runs in and staying consistent. It’s definitely going to be a learning curve not only for the athletes but for the coaches … and kids want to run; you’ve got to give them something,” Hardwick said.
It’s vital for our athletes to get back on track, literally and figuratively, as soon as possible, yet it’s undeniable how difficult this snow is to move, let alone redo an entire football field. The only thing to do now is wait and hope.
