Agenda - 04-19-2005-9c - Laserfiche WebLink

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i7 It is important that the drawings reflect the appropriate drainage pattern and the contractor adhere to tolerance standards for the contours. The final outcome of the field should be smooth and gentle to avoid areas of saturation or extreme dryness. Construction: Proper construction management by the designer and the owner (or representative,) will ensure a quality built athletic field. Drawings and specifications should be clear, detailed, and understood before beginning construction. The contractor should have prior experience with constructing athletic fields and be able to hire sub contractors who also have experience with constructing athletic fields. Construction should follow a general sequence with more specific procedures, depending on the intricacy of the project. The first step of construction is to remove all debris, roots, brush, and other existing impediments and remove 6" of topsoil and stockpile on site. Next, rough grade the site and add the needed soil amenities. Soil should be prepared, after rough grading, by loosening the soil to a depth of 6". This allows the existing soil structure to remain and provides a base far the sprigging or sodding. It is not recommended to compact the sub base of the soil because this could lead to the sub base not draining adequately and causing the topsoil layer to become saturated. After rough grading is complete, replace the stockpiled topsoil, add sail amenities, if any, and fine grade. Spot elevation checks should be incorporated and approved by the designer prior to accepting final grade and turf installation. It is also a good practice to scarify the sub base and continue to scarify as topsoil is replaced. This will ensure adequate drainage and reduce the layering of soils and avoid soil saturation, Once final grade is complete and accepted, the turf grass should be installed. The most common athletic field turf in the southeast is a hybrid Bermuda grass. Bermuda grass is a dependable surface that is durable and can tolerate close mowing to allow the soil to dry and improve ball response. Bermuda grass has many different varieties and an appropriate selection should be made based on maintenance considerations, quality desired, demands on the turf, and budget. A Bermuda mix is also common on athletic fields where Bermuda grass is mixed with a perennial rye or fescue. It is best to complete final grading just prior to planting of turf seed or sprigging. Regular watering is required when turf is in the process of becoming established. Maintenance: Regular inspections of the field are important to maintenance. Inspecting the field will give a baseline on the field's performance and reveal problems which can be easily remedied. Inspections every-other week during the off-season and every week during the play season will help avoid problems. Turf should be mowed to maintain a height of 1"from May-September, and remove no more than 1/3 of blade height. If more than 1/3 of the blade is removed, the turf blades will be weakened, and infrequent mowing may lead to excess clippings, which can lead to a thatch problem and unhealthy turf overall.