Stonington - The committee overseeing the installation of the artificial turf field at the high school will open bids for the work later this month, which will give it plenty of time to finish the project before the fall sports season begins.

When the Athletic Field Improvements Oversight Committee opens the bids on March 29 for the work to Palmer Field, committee members will also decide whether to have a field with solid green turf or one that has alternating panels of light green and dark green.

The majority of the teams that use the field - football, lacrosse, field hockey and soccer favor the alternate design, said high school Athletic Director Bryan Morrone during a committee meeting Friday.

Some committee members plan to go look at an alternating panel field installed by FieldTurf, one of the manufacturers. It has already visited an alternating field done by another manufacturer. There is no cost difference for the alternating panels.

"The alternating colors look more dramatic," said Director of Public Works Joe Bragaw.

A 30-foot brown "S" will be in the middle of the field, which will be lined for the different sports.

At either end of the field will be two 15-foot-high screens that will catch wayward balls. The area between the north end zone and the track will be covered with artificial turf and serve as a warm-up area. At the south end will be new pole vault and high jump areas. New long jump and triple jump runways and pits will be installed at the southwest corner of the track.

Bragaw said he expects the town will receive very favorable bids for the project because of the current market.

Voters approved the $2.7 million project to build the artificial turf field and repair the grass fields last year. Work to rebuild the softball, boys soccer and field hockey fields will begin after the artificial turf field is done. That work is projected for completion in 2014. Improvements also will be made to other parts of the athletic complex.

j.wojtas@theday.com