Growing central Texas school district Thrall ISD made plans to update their district’s athletic facilities, including the baseball-softball complex and tennis courts. After the bond successfully passed with community support to build a a new Elementary campus, HS campus addition, and to enhance some of their Athletic Facilities; Thrall looked for a company to partner with to reach their athletic facility expectations and goals. Thrall ISD chose Paragon Sports Constructors as their design-build partner due to their reputable references, history of repeat work with school districts and athletic facility owners, and their hands-on project team with expertise in multiple skillsets.
thrall isd’s vision: project goals
Thrall ISD desired to create state-of-the-art facilities for their students and community; an investment that would increase communal pride while lowering annual maintenance costs and staff required to maintain the fields. They wanted to invest in long-lasting results, requiring less resources such as water and recurring cultural services, and that would be available to play on year-round.
“This being our second year on the turf surface, we have not been without practice due to rain, cold, etc. and have experienced an improvement in performance.”
Tommy Hooker, Thrall ISD Superintendent
understanding the vision: project scope
The design process evaluated the district’s pros and cons of the project’s capabilities, with their budget, on a tight timeline, ultimately making prompt decisions to stay on schedule. Beyond the selection of Shaw Sports Turf for their baseball and softball fields, Thrall ISD enlisted PSC to install new masonry dugouts and covered batting cages with lighting for their student athletes. The previous four tennis courts were doubled with eight new ones featuring long lasting, durable Sports Master acrylic surfacing. The tennis facilities now have a restroom and concessions building with a viewing platform on top, providing an intentional, multipurpose structure for the use of both athletes and fans. The comprehensive project scope included:
- Excavation of subgrade & compaction to proper density and moisture
- Concrete curb, drainage system, liner & drain stone layer
- Installation of synthetic turf at baseball & softball fields
- Bleachers with shade structures & pressbox
- Masonry dugouts with storage unit on home side
- Covered batting cages with interior lighting
- Concrete backstop wall with netting & padding
- R-panel outfield fence & black vinyl chain link fencing
- Electrical system
- Concrete & flatwork around fields
- Exterior sod & irrigation system
- Installation of six post tension tennis courts with fencing, netting, windscreens & shade structures
- Tennis restrooms & concessions building with viewing platform & elevator
“The choice for Thrall ISD to utilize Paragon Sport Constructors was invaluable for our project. We feel the process was productive and efficient from start to finish! We received a great product with significant value at a fair price and done by a superior team of leaders.”
Tommy Hooker, Thrall ISD Superintendent
enhancing the fan experience
Improving the fan experience at their athletic facilities was a top priority for Thrall ISD. Beyond the playing surfaces, they chose facility upgrades to ensure visiting fans would remember their time at Thrall. The tennis complex features a viewing platform with stands, providing optimal visibility for fans in a designated area away from the field of play. The baseball and softball fields’ newly installed shade structures and bleachers provide fans protection from the Texas sun.
impact & benefits
Unpredictable weather was the biggest delay in this project, but the baseball, softball & tennis teams were able to utilize their fields & courts for the 2023 spring season after a fall 2022 groundbreaking. Thrall ISD’s investment provides opportunities for younger players on the weekends, tournament hosting capabilities throughout the year, and other community events to provide business for local retailers, and ultimately showcase how athletic facility investment can positively affect a school district, its students, and the surrounding areas.
“Baseball, Softball, and Tennis were utilized for the 2023 season and this was nearly impossible to do this project so quickly. The coordinating and planning team of leaders along with the subcontractors worked together seamlessly and truly felt like one entire PSC team. The relationship Paragon Sports Constructors has with their team shows they are truly unique and care; just as their upper leadership displays in their kind business approach and compassion for creating facilities as if it was their legacy to build!”
Tommy Hooker, Thrall ISD Superintendent
As a turn-key athletic facility services provider, Paragon Sports Constructors understands the complexities of installing and maintaining sports facilities and we aim to be your long-term partner by being honest and transparent and ensuring peak performance for your facilities for years to come. Put our team to work for yours.
project details
Baseball: Grass areas Shaw Sports Turf Legion Pro / Base path & pitcher’s mound Shaw Sports Turf TruHop / Infill Sand & Rubber
Softball: Infield Shaw Sports Turf TruHop / Outfield Shaw Sports Turf Legion Pro / Infill Sand & Rubber
Tennis: Courts Sports Master tennis court surfacing
ABOUT PARAGON SPORTS CONSTRUCTORS
Paragon Sports Constructors is a turn-key contractor of natural and synthetic turf sports fields, running tracks and tennis courts based in Fort Worth, Texas. With over 40 years of sports construction experience they are one of the premier sports field and running track contractors in the South-Central United States. Paragon Sports Constructors is a member of the American Sports Builders Association who remains focused on quality construction practices, choosing to partner with top brand name manufacturers of synthetic turf and track surfacing to provide clients a consistently high-quality project from planning to first use. For more information on Paragon Sports Constructors please visit www.paragon-sports.com, or follow them on social media at LinkedIN, Twitter, and Facebook.
