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Jefferson Parish Public Schools Selects Fieldturf Tarkett's Le Monde and FieldTurf Surfaces

MONTREAL, June 6, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Jefferson Parish Public Schools in New Orleans has selected FieldTurf Tarkett to supply and install two new Le Monde running tracks at the East and West Jefferson Stadiums. Each track will surround a new FieldTurf field, giving Jefferson Parish two of the most technologically advanced athletic facilities in the nation.

The Le Monde track system, with its aggressive texture and softer base layer, was designed for speed while offering superior comfort to the athlete. The patent-pending seam construction keeps the environment out, offering greater protection against seam splitting, and features unique drainage channels which dramatically improve wet-weather performance.

"We selected FieldTurf Tarkett's FieldTurf and Le Monde surfaces after much comparative analysis," said Jefferson Parish Athletic Director Manny Barocco. "We found that the Le Monde sheet good was perfect for our facility needs, and offered the best performance characteristics of anything we have seen. Not only is it a top-of-the-line product, but it was less expensive than full-pour polyurethane surfaces."

Jefferson East and West stadiums were constructed in the early 1950's and have received few upgrades since. Having been hit hard by Hurricane Katrina, the resulting beneficial tax base has helped to provide facility improvements that have provided an emotional boost to Jefferson Parish students.

"Not only has FieldTurf Tarkett modernized our sites, but it has placed us as the standard and benchmark in Louisiana for high school football and track facilities," said Barocco.

Jefferson Parish thus becomes the first school district in the U.S. to take advantage of the now affordable sheet-good systems. With the increase in the price of oil driving up the cost of poured-in-place polyurethane track systems, sheet products have now become an affordable alternative that was once believed to be exclusively for Division I universities and other high-profile stadiums.

"We feel that Le Monde is absolutely unequalled among all track surfacing products on the market in terms of performance and safety. As our Le Monde track surface continues to gain acceptance, athletes and coaches have been realizing that our revolutionary track product will allow them to perform at the highest level with comfort and unparalled traction", said FieldTurf Tarkett CEO John Gilman. "With our growing track division, our prosperous hardwood flooring line, and our world-renowned turf systems, we have made it easier for our clients to find the highest quality sports surfacing products. As the industry's 'One Stop Shop', our focus is on providing the highest quality sports surfacing systems in the industry along with unmatched after sales service."

In selecting two top-of-the-line products from the industry leader, Jefferson Parish made use of the advantage of FieldTurf Tarkett's "one-stop shop" abilities for sports surfacing. By manufacturing all of their own products, FieldTurf Tarkett is able to pass on the cost savings to the customer while controlling quality from start to finish.

The Jefferson Parish installation is expected to be completed by early August, in time for the students' return for the 2007-'08 school year.

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) certified Le Monde in accordance with their regulations for international competition. The Le Monde surface is the most advanced state-of-the-art product on the market, and it is offered exclusively by FieldTurf Tarkett. Le Monde, like all other FieldTurf Tarkett products, is backed by a fully insured third-party warranty.

FieldTurf Tarkett is the largest entity in the sports surfacing industry. A division of Tarkett, the worldwide leader in commercial flooring with $2.5 billion in annual sales, FieldTurf Tarkett brings unprecedented financial, technical, manufacturing, and customer service resources to sports surfacing clients around the globe. In addition to the FieldTurf brand, FieldTurf Tarkett provides a comprehensive line that includes basketball, volleyball, and gymnasium flooring, squash and racquetball courts, floor protection and covering systems, weight room flooring, indoor and outdoor running tracks and a complete range of tennis and golf surfaces. FieldTurf Tarkett provides a high level of service and professionalism, making the company a one-stop resource for high quality sports surfacing products.

CONTACT:  FieldTurf Tarkett
          Darren Gill
          (800) 724-2969

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