Work began Monday tearing up the asphalt high jump runway at Aurora High School, the first piece of the puzzle in a summer-long effort to replace natural grass inside the oval with field turf.

Field Turf Next Spoke organizers announced last week that more than $500,000 had been raised, which meant the project was all systems go. The plan is to remove the sod immediately, then build a base so turf can be installed and ready for use by the Huskies’ home opener Aug. 24.