As head coach Kevin Stefanski, Browns Executive Vice President and Partner JW Johnson and Garfield Heights school officials adorned hard hats and held shovels, they officially broke ground outside the existing football field at Garfield Heights High School.
The new high-quality synthetic turf field – set to be completed in August 2024, prior to the fall football season – is the Browns 15th field that they have installed at schools across Northeast Ohio as part of the organization's field surface projects.
"This project represents our commitment to providing top-notch facilities for our community, fostering athletic excellence and creating valuable opportunities for our youth," Browns Vice President of Community Relations Jenner Tekancic said. "The new field will not only enhance the playing experience but also serve as a catalyst for the overall development and growth of students."
Recently joining forces with the Browns as their Official Synthetic Turf Partner, ForeverLawn is emerging as one of the leading providers of premium synthetic turf, headquartered in Louisville, Ohio. The high-performance synthetic turf from its SportsGrass line of products is being installed at Garfield Heights High School and future sites selected by Browns Give Back.
Beginning in 2016, the Browns and the Haslam and Johnson families announced a commitment to provide five Cleveland Metropolitan School District schools with high-quality synthetic turf fields through a two-year project timeline. As of 2023, the Browns have installed 14 fields and counting across Northeast Ohio.
The field surface project helps to emphasize the Stay in the Game! Attendance Network and the Browns Give Back's vision to impact education and youth and high school football in Northeast Ohio.
This is accomplished through the field projects' vision to offer youth educational tools through "outdoor classrooms," which offer opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities that support attendance, school engagement and overall personal growth.
All the fields created through the program are lined for multiple sports, including but not limited to football and soccer, and serve as a resource to further engage athletes and students in their respective districts and programs. Given the stability of the surface and lower maintenance than natural grass, the fields are also more readily available year-round to youth and community groups.
One of those groups that uses the Browns-donated fields for their practices and games is the Cleveland Muny Football League – recognized as the oldest youth football league in Ohio. The league primarily utilizes fields located at various Cleveland Metropolitan School District sites.
Each year, the league has over 3,500 athletes who engage in year-round activities facilitated by the league, which is also supported by over 500 volunteer coaches each year.
"The Cleveland Browns field projects have provided so many benefits to the Cleveland Muny Football League," Director of Cleveland Muny Football League Jason Dunn said. "Not only do the new turf fields provide an eye-catching appearance to the facilities, but they have also restored pride back into the communities. We've seen our numbers steadily increasing because we can provide so much more programming on the fields that we couldn't in the past due to poor field conditions. They are meeting hubs where fans and families come together in a structured environment."
The field project continues beyond the installation of the turf field. During the summer months, the Browns return to each field where Browns alumni help to host a LEGENDS Clinic – a free football camp offered to youth in the community. The Browns are hosting 13 LEGENDS Clinics throughout the summer of 2024.
Each LEGENDS Clinics – presented by Browns partner Office Revolution and in association with University Hospitals, Cardinal Credit Union and Ohio CAT – hosts Browns alumni and local high school football coaches who offer tips and hands-on instruction to participants. The clinics include lectures, fundamental football skills stations, contests and non-contact games. These clinics are open to boys and girls ages 8-14 and accommodate athletes of all skill levels.
LEGENDS Clinics play a vital role in fostering both the athletic and personal development of young athletes. By providing an opportunity for boys and girls to learn from Browns alumni, seasoned high school football coaches and varsity athletes, these clinics offer more than just football skills. They are a venue for imparting life lessons such as teamwork, discipline and sportsmanship in an engaging environment.
The goal of the LEGENDS Clinics is to bring the community together at the youth level during the summer months for those in attendance to enjoy the day with the Browns. By promoting a healthy and active lifestyle, LEGENDS Clinics contribute to the holistic development of young individuals, preparing them to be the next generation of leaders both on and off the field.
Former Browns running back Greg Pruitt attended one of the LEGENDS Clinics at Shaw High School in 2022. He recognized the role sports played in his childhood and wanted to support the next generation.
"People that had gone before me realized the potential in me, and so they did what they did to keep me on track," Pruitt said. "I come to these events because hopefully I'll say something to somebody that'll stick and that it'll make a difference to them."
