About the Project
Hawken School has unveiled a $1.95 million plan to create a multi-purpose field with artificial turf and to install artificial turf and lights on Humphrey Field, where a new and improved stadium will emerge and be named in honor of Cliff Walton and his 30 years of dedication to sports and the development of character.
The project, which received nearly $1.5 million in less than two months from graduates, parents and friends, was sparked by a series of luncheons that Scott Looney had in the fall with Seniors. As the new Head of School, he wanted to know what students valued most about Hawken and what they would change. A common theme was their desire for more school traditions and better school spirit. When he asked how the school could increase spirit, the overwhelming response from athletes and non-athletes alike was Friday Night Lights. At that moment a new school tradition was born.
Photo Gallery
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Field
There are a wide range of activities and uses for the new multi-sport field complex. The stadium is not just a gift to the Hawken football program. Walton Stadium will feature day and night games of every field sport at Hawken Upper School with the exception of baseball and softball. Another multi-sport field near Walton Stadium will accommodate all sports including baseball and softball. Using artificial grass, the field—like Walton Stadium—will be weather-resistant, allowing for day games, longer seasons and earlier practice play in the spring.
Save the dates for these exciting night games at Walton Stadium:
- Football - Aug. 31, Sep. 28, Oct. 12, Oct. 19
- Field Hockey - Sep. 8, Oct. 11
- Women's Soccer - Sep. 15, Oct. 6
- Men's Soccer - Sep. 29
Turf
Hawken's fields will feature TigerTurf, produced by one of the largest, most innovative global synthetic turf manufacturing companies in the world. Headquartered in New Zealand, TigerTurf International has customers in over 80 countries, including North and Latin America, Europe, Japan, China, Africa, India and the UK. Tiger Turf is on the roster of just about every sport: soccer, football, field hockey, lacrosse, tennis, golf, lawn bowling, cricket, netball, even paddle tennis! It services the pros to youth and senior leagues. Last year, it became the official licensee to the FIFA, the governing body of world soccer.
Lights
Lighting at Walton Stadium will feature Musco's Light-Structure Green System, with improved luminaire efficiency and Smart Lamp Operating System which cuts spill and glare to nearby properties and protects the beauty of the dark night skies while reducing by one half or more the cost of operating and maintaining the ball field lighting system. The system comes with a guarantee for 25 years of unprecedented trouble-free operation. Lighting along the road leading to the field and in the parking lot will also feature the Musco system.
Other Improvements
In addition to artificial turf and lighting, other improvements as part of the Walton Stadium and the multi-sport field complex will include:
- upgraded restrooms
- expanded and upgraded team rooms
- refurbished concession stand and eating area
- new aluminum bleacher seating for multi-purpose field
- new scoreboard
- new field goal posts