MAINTENANCE OF NATURAL GRASS FIELDS
SPONSORED BY:
Customer Loyalty through Client Satisfaction CONFERENCE HELD BY:
NATURAL GRASS TURF FIELDS
PRESENTED BY: ANDREW HIPOLIT, PE, PP, CME, CPWM Who installs Natural Grass Fields?
Installations have been performed by local contractors such as: . The Land Tek Group, Inc & . Dakota Excavating Contractor Fun Facts on Natural Grass Fields
. 18 of 31 NFL Fields use Natural Grass . Locally: . Metlife Stadium (Giants/Jets) have artificial turf . Lincoln Financial Field (Eagles) has natural grass
. 28 of 30 MLB stadiums use Natural Grass . 17 in colder climates use Kentucky Bluegrass . 8 in warmer climates use Bermudagrass Considerations for Design
SOD Suppliers & Grass Selection
Drainage & Irrigation system
Maintenance Items Natural Grass Installation Cost
• Natural Grass will cost anywhere from $50,000.00 to $600,000.00 depending on material selection and field Sources: drainage options. (TRC) Turf Grass Resource Center (STMA) Sports Turf Managers Association SOD Type Selection
12 turfgrass 10,000 types Kentucky Bluegrass species 3 Suited for Perennial Ryegrass of grass 6 sports North East US turf types Tall Fescue 3 Sports Turfgrasses Commonly Used in Northeast Kentucky Bluegrass- $400/Acre Used in Yankee Stadium & Citi Field & 17 Others Medium-Good Wear Resistance Good Recuperative Potential . Overall Good Quality Perennial Ryegrass- Avg $130/Acre - Used in the Cincinnati Reds Ball Park Good Wear Resistance Medium Recuperative Potential Overall Good Quality Tall Fescue- Avg $155/Acre Used as a mixing agent . Good Wear Resistance . Fair Recuperative Potential . Overall Medium Quality Kentucky Blue Grass Fields in MLB
. Yankee Stadium . Citi Field . Camden Yards . Fenway Park . Wrigley Field . & 12 other MLB teams Perennial Ryegrass Grass Fields in MLB
. Great American Ball Park (Cincinnati Reds) Tall Fescue used in MLB & Other Sports
. Kauffman Stadium- KC Royals . Only used in the colder months . Used on fairways and tee locations in golf courses REQUIRED MAINTAINANCE EQUIPMENT FOR NATURAL GRASS FIELDS
. Aerator: core, plug, or slicing . Mower type . Irrigation system . Aeration core collection . Seed/Fertilizer spreader equipment . Weed and pest control . Field magnet application equipment . G-Max testing instrument . Line Painter . Tractor or utility vehicle OPTIONAL MAINTAINANCE EQUIPMENT (CON’T)
. Blower and / or sweeper . Groove or Slit Seeder . Deep tine aerator . Top Dresser . De-thatching equipment . Field roller . Dragging implement Cost of Equipment
Total Cost: Low End $72,600 High End $105,250
Source: SafeHealthyPlayingFields.org Aeration Schedule
Signs of compacted soil and thinning grass. . Aeration should be done twice a year in Early spring and late fall . Fields should be sliced mid season to allow for over seeding and for compaction . Aeration also provides oxygen to root level of the grass . Aeration should be combined with overseeding and feralization . Core Aeration- adds sand to improve drainage of the field Mowing
Never Mow more than 1/3 Sharpen Blades the total height of the . Dull Blades tear the grass grass blades instead of cutting it. . Sharpen Blades Bi-weekly . Help Promote Deep Root (Depending on Usage) Growth . Keep a spare sharpened . Reduces Clippings blade
Change mowing direction Bag grass clipping if grass becomes too long Fertilization Selection: Organic vs. Synthetic Fertilizers Organic Fertilizers
. Benefits: . Provides the soil and plants with nutrients/ enriches the soil . Helps improve the soils ability to hold water . Environmentally friendly . Hard to over fertilize . Drawbacks: . Its a process not an application . Need warmth and moisture to work . Requires more labor to apply . Nutrient ratios cannot be guaranteed Chemical Fertilizers
. Benefits: . Fast-acting formula . Can be applied quickly to large areas . Allows for adjusting ratios of nutrient levels based on need . Less expensive than organic . Drawbacks: . Can deplete the nutrients from the soil . Can require multiple applications . Potential buildup of chemicals . Can leach into other areas . Need License for certain applications Fertilizer Ratio Selection
Nitrogen helps the plant above the ground Phosphate helps the plant underground Potassium helps in both areas Irrigation System for 85,000 SF Field
Irrigation System cost depends on the type system you are employing. Each system requires a different level of labor associated with the system. . Portable Sprinkler– $500-$2000; Labor Intensive
. Small Traveling Systems-$2000 +piping & hose Sprinkler . Large Traveling System-$7000-$16,000 + piping & hose (Traveling Systems are less labor intensive) . Hard Piped (Permanent in ground system)$35,000-$55,000 per field (little labor required)
Sm. Trav. Sys. Lrg. Traveling System Hard Piped Winterizing Maintenance
Cresskill Municipal Field, Bergen County
Thermal blankets are used to speed up germination and promote deep root development. They also establish a greener turf surface in the spring. Repair of Natural Grass Fields
. The benefit of using a natural grass field is if an area is damaged or worn down, the area can be quickly repaired with some SOD and will only cost a fraction of the field cost. Annual Maintenance Cost
Annual Maintenance Cost For Natural Grass Fields
Line Painting $2,000‐$3,000 Avg $2,500
Annual Cost: Seeding/Overseeding $1,000‐$3,000 Avg $2,000 $34,000-$87,000 Sanding $500‐$1200 Avg $850.00 Fertilizers (6 Treatments/Year) $3,000
Pesticides $1,000 Average Cost: Aeration $1,500 $61,850.00 Sod replacement $15,000‐$50,000 Avg $33K Irrigation $10,000‐$25,000 Avg $18K Outsourcing Maintenance of Grass Fields
. Each field is unique and will require individual pricing based on soil conditions, field type, area and maintenance schedule. Maintenance contracts are often provided by the installer of the natural grass field. Life Expectancy of Natural Grass Fields
. No fixed life expectancy
. Depending on use, grass fields can feasibly last for more than 20 years before replacement.
. Typically, fields need full replacement after 30 years
. Weather, rain, snow, and drought have an impact and plays a role in the life-expectancy of the fields. Q & A
. QUESTIONS / COMMENTS MAINTENANCE OF SYNTHETIC TURF FIELDS
SPONSORED BY:
Customer Loyalty through Client Satisfaction SYNTHETIC TURF FIELDS SYNTHETIC TURF FIELDS
Outdoor Parks (Oakwood Park) New Providence, NJ
Schools (Seton Hall Preparatory School – Kelly Athletic Complex Improvements) West Orange, NJ
Stadiums (MetLife Stadium) East Rutherford, NJ FUN FACTS/MANUFACTURERS
. Out of 31 NFL stadiums, 18 use synthetic turf (Manufacturers: EasyTurf, FieldTurf, Act Global, etc.)
. Out of 30 MLB stadiums, 2 use synthetic turf (Tropicana Field manufactured by Shaw Sports Turf & Rogers Centre manufactured by AstroTurf) LAYERS OF SYNTHETIC TURF
. Turf Fiber
. Infill
. Backing System
. Energy Pad
. Aggregate Base/Leveling Layer
. Drainage Stone/Drainage Conveyance
. Geotextile
. Gravel/Sand Sub-base TURF FIBER
. Polyethylene
. Polypropylene
. Nylon
. FieldTurf CORE – World’s first multi-layer, dual-polymer fiber.
- Engineered for (elite-level) facilities, designed to provide a more realistic, textured, grass-like shape with optimal durability and resiliency.
What: Surface of synthetic turf field made to look like natural grass.
Purpose: Fiber is treated with UV inhibiters and is abrasion-resistant, so that athletes can slide on the fiber without fear of turf burns. INFILL
. Coated Rubber Infill
. EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) Infill
. Organic Infill
. Sand (Silica) Infill
. Coated Silica Sand Infill . TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer) Infill – Non-toxic, resists fading, long lasting, and 100% recyclable and reusable as infill when the field is to be replaced. Offers consistent performance and excellent Gmax over a wide temperature range.
What: Serves as a top soil layer, but is created with sand and/or granulated recycled tire rubber or other infill materials that hold each other in suspension, compress and expand to provide the necessary stability, uniformity and long life resiliency. Purpose: To create a safe surface playing field for athletes. BACKING SYSTEM
. Drainage is designed to allow water to percolate through the backing of the turf and drain through the base layer into the water table.
. Polyurethane Weep holes – . Duraflo . Polyurethane Foam facilitate drainage
What: The backing is made of a combination of permeable woven and non-woven polypropylene fabrics.
Purpose: To provide exceptional strength and unmatched vertical drainage. ENERGY/SHOCK PAD
. Polyurethane Pad
What: A shock pad is a middle layer of padding installed between the sub-base layer and the layer of artificial turf. Shock pads are made from different types of foam with varying thicknesses.
Purpose: When combined with high-quality turf and non-compacting infill, shock pads will add comfort to the user, prolong the life of the synthetic turf and add a layer of cushion to prevent injury. Shock pads help turf system designs meet specific impact testing requirements. Designed to let water pass vertically. Enhances playability, safety and drainage and synthetic turf fields. AGGREGATE BASE/LEVELING LAYER
. Compacted gravel stone aggregate base used as a leveling layer, compacted stone dust. DRAINAGE STONE/DRAINAGE CONVEYANCE
. Drainstone
. PVC Pipe (perforated)
What: Drainstone is the pervious concrete layer designed to allow water to flow through to base materials.
Purpose: Drainstone serves as the crucial, solid foundation for any synthetic turf field. It allows the field to drain with ease, remain durable and hold planarity throughout its life. Pipes, typically PVC pipe (perforated) are used as perimeter drain pipes or a conveyance system to allow the field to drain. GEOSYNTHETICS/GEOTEXTILE
. Geotextiles are the most widely used geosynthetic. . Geotextiles made from woven and nonwoven fabrics. Often referred to as construction fabrics. . Constructed from long-lasting synthetic fibers that form a fabric held together by Nonwoven weaving, heat bonding, or other means. . Porous to drain rapidly. Tufted to provide ample spacing between blades of grass. . Primarily used for separation and reinforcement over wet, unstable soils. . Supports loads through tensile strength and can allow water, but not soil to seep through. . Acts like a sand filter by allowing water to move through the soil, while retaining the soil particles. . Geotextiles prevent soil from migrating into drainage aggregate or pipes, while maintaining flow through the system. NATURAL SUBGRADE
. Subgradeisthenativesoilundera constructed surface. . Sandy soils are preferred over clay soils to minimize drainage design and overall cost of project. . Clay soils call for more stone basin. MAINTENANCE
. Measuring Field Hardness . Sweeping and Dragging . Loosening and Redistributing of Infill . Checking and Replenishing Infill Level . Vacuum/Leaf Blower . Sanitation and Disinfection . Anti-Microbial Treating . Anti-Static Treatment . Watering . Snow Removal . Repairs MEASURING FIELD HARDNESS
. Measured by determining the ‘Gmax’ of the playing surface.
. Gmax refers to the hardness of the surface. The higher the value, the harder the surface.
. ASTM F355 device is a tool commonly used to measure Gmax.
. Gmax should be tested at several locations of the field on a yearly basis or more frequent depending on use.
ASTM F355 Device SWEEPING AND DRAGGING
. Sweeping and Dragging – keeps carpet fibers in an upright position. Once per week or once per month depending on use.
. Magnet Collector – collects nails or other metals, which could cause harm to athletes during use. CHECKING AND REPLENISHING INFILL LEVEL
. Infill depth likely to drop within first year due to “settling in.”
. Monitor infill depth.
. Infill depth measurement device.
. Replenish if infill level is low. LOOSENING AND REDISTRIBUTING OF INFILL
. Infill depth measurement device reads low
. Redistribute infill and loosen VACUUM/SURFACE BLOWER . Debris collection from surface blowing and vacuum sweeper.
Power Broom/Brush/Sweeper
Vacuum Sweeper
Surface Blower SANITATION AND DISINFECTION
. Synthetic turf fields collect a wide range of materials during use, including body fluids such as sweat, blood, mucus, saliva, and urine, which transmit microbes.
Boom Sprayers
. Sanitation and disinfection procedures such as anti- microbial treating is necessary to protect the health of the players. ANTI-MICROBIAL TREATING
. Anti-microbial agents are disinfectants such as bleach, which kill a wide range of microbes on non-living surfaces to prevent the spread of illness, antiseptics and antibiotics.
. Treating with anti-microbial products to remove bacterial growth.
. Recommended on a weekly to monthly basis. ANTI-STATIC TREATMENT
. A surfactant and anti-static liquid is applied to the infill layer to combat naturally-occurring static and surface tension that could potentially contribute to infill displacement and prevent water flow through.
Surfactant & Anti-Static Application . Specifically formulated for the effective control of electrical static buildup on artificial systems.
. Used on an as-needed basis for the initial break-in period of the field. Typically every 2-3 weeks in the first few months of the life of the field and after every heavy rainfall. FieldTurf Scrub Detergent FieldTurf Static Conditioner WATERING
. Synthetic turf fields absorb more heat than grass
. Watering helps stabilize field temperatures
. The sand/rubber particles in synthetic turf fields are free-floating in the bottom. The water helps the particles to settle, which makes ball movement faster. SNOW REMOVAL Winter maintenance includes, but is not limited to the following:
Power Broom/Brush/Sweeper
Bulldozer / Low Ground Pressure Tracks (recommended)
Snow Blower REPAIRS
. Synthetic turf seam ruptures left unattended worsen over time and will result in more repairs to be done. . Contact manufacturer for repair procedures. . Maintenance and repair procedures are to be done by the manufacturer or a certified installer by the manufacturer. . Manufacturer likely to use razor knife to cut base of backing to the synthetic turf and remove the damaged spot. . Apply adhesive material, seam new patch. PAINT
. Painting field
. Removal of paint / ghosting
. Reapplying paint COST OF SYNTHETIC TURF FIELD
. Differs from project to project depending on size, sports and age of kids using the field as there are different requirements.
. Average size of a single synthetic turf field is approximately 85,000 SF.
. Turf system rates approximately $5.00 per SF.
. Drainage system rates approximately $4.50 per SF.
. Average cost of a 85,000 SF synthetic turf field approximately $800,000 – $850,000.
. Rates likely to increase for smaller fields. MAINTENANCE COSTS
. Minimal maintenance is required for synthetic turf fields. . Most synthetic turf fields are maintained by one person. . Maintenance cost approximately $5,000 - $10,000 per year. LIFE EXPECTANCY
. Synthetic turf field’s life expectancy typically ranges from 8 – 12 years.
Synthetic Turf Field Replacement Costs . Removal costs typically range from $1.00 - $1.25 per SF. . Recycling of existing infill can be credited on average $0.20 - $0.22 per SF. . Installation of new synthetic turf approximately $4.50 - $5.00 per SF. . Synthetic Turf Field Replacement Costs for a 85,000 SF approximately $450,000 – $515,000. IMPACT ON ENVIRONMENT
. Synthetic turf fields have a positive impact on the environment. . A typical grass field requires anywhere between 500,000 – 1,000,000 gallons of water or more each year. Fun Fact: According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average American family of four uses 400 gallons of water a day, which equates to 146,000 gallons per year. . Eliminates the need of harmful pesticides and fertilizers, which have significant health and environmental implications. . Reduces noxious emissions, grass clippings and geese problems. NATURAL/SYNTHETIC TURF COMPARISON
Natural Turfgrass Synthetic Turf . Cooler, particularly in the summer. . Warmer and subject to glare in the presence of . Softer and more forgiving surface. sunlight. . Quality dependent on soil type and . Consistent quality surface. maintenance. . Set maintenance (low). . Visually appealing if well maintained. . Visually appealing, green all the time. . Freshly cut grass smell. . Strong odor for synthetic turf and rubber infill. . Provides environmental benefits in terms of . Provides environmental benefits in terms of carbon absorption and contribution to water saving and reduced maintenance. biodiversity. . Artificial unnatural feel. . High maintenance. . Suitable in many types of weather including rain . Field requires closure for maintenance. and snow. . Field should remain closed in wet weather. Q & A
. QUESTIONS / COMMENTS