Standard Guide for Construction or Renovation of Native-soil Athletic Fields

Importancia y uso:

4.1 A dense, uniform, smooth and vigorously growing natural turfgrass sports field provides the ideal and preferred playing surface for most outdoor field sports. Such a surface is pleasing to the spectators and athletes. A thick, consistent and smooth grass cover also increases playing quality and safety by providing stable footing for the athletes, cushioning their impact from falls, slides or tackles and cools the playing surface during hot weather.

4.2 Sand is commonly used to construct high performance athletic field rootzone systems. Sand is chosen as the primary construction material for two basic properties; compaction resistance and improved drainage/aeration state. Although sand-based fields generally provide for a higher level of performance, the costs associated with constructing/developing a proper, high-performance sand-based field often precludes its use for many athletic field construction projects. In these instances soil-based fields constructed with either native or imported soils; either topsoil or subsoil material modified to mimic the properties of a natural topsoil (a manufactured topsoil). These soils are sometimes modified with amendments to improve their performance properties either at the time of original construction or during a subsequent renovation. Although not approaching the same performance properties of a proper sand-based field construction; the implementation of proper design, construction, and athletic field maintenance can produce soil-based athletic field rootzones with acceptable performance characteristics.

4.3 Properties of both the soil and grass plants must be considered in planning, constructing, and maintaining a high quality athletic field installation. Turfgrass utilized must be adapted to the local growing conditions and be capable of forming a thick, dense, turf cover at the desired mowing height. Soil-based fields provide varying levels of soil stability but such conditions often deteriorate rapidly under high soil moisture conditions. Therefore it is imperative that grasses with superior wear tolerance and superior recuperative potential are utilized to withstand heavy foot traffic and intense shear forces. The rootzone depth for athletic field constructions should be a minimum depth of 8 in.

4.4 Subgrade soils are typically site soils which are repurposed for this application. The use of stone, gravel, or coarse-sand for subgrade construction is typically not necessary and may be detrimental to the performance of the rootzone by the potential to impeded internal drainage and reduce air space from the creation of perched water effects. If an aggregate material is needed for stabilization purposes of a soft subgrade soil, the use of a fine stone dust should be considered.

4.5 A successful soil-based rootzone system is dependent upon the proper selection of materials to use in the project. The proper selection of soil materials or any amendments, or both, subsurface drainage and surface drainage/grade are the primary components which are vital concerns to the performance of the system and this standard guide addresses these issues.

4.5.1 During construction, consideration should be given to factors such as the physical and chemical properties of materials used in the area, freedom from stones and other debris, and surface and internal drainage (and subsurface drainage in areas subject to high water tables).

4.5.2 Maintenance practices that influence the playability of the surface include mowing, irrigation, fertilization, and mechanical aeration and are factors addressed in other standards. See Guides F2060 and F2269.

4.6 Those responsible for the design, construction, or maintenance, or a combination thereof, of natural turf athletic fields for multi-use and recreational purposes will benefit from this guide.

4.7 A successful project development depends upon proper planning and upon the selection and cooperation among design and construction team members. An athletic field rootzone project design team should include a Project Designer, an Agronomist or Soil Scientist, or both, and an Owner’s Design Representative. Additions to the team during the construction phase should include an Owner’s Project Manager (often an expansion of role for the Owner’s Design Representative), an Owner’s Quality Control Agent (often the personnel that is employed in advance with the intent of becoming the finished project’s Sports Turf Manager), an Owner’s Testing Agent (often an expansion of roles for the Project’s Agronomist/Soil Scientist) and the Contractor.

4.7.1 Planning for projects must be conducted well in advance of the intended construction date. Often this requires numerous meetings to create a calendar of events, schedule, approvals, assessments, performance criteria, material sourcing, agronomic test reports, soil surveys, geotechnical reports, and construction budgets.

Subcomité:

F08.64

Volúmen:

15.07

Número ICS:

97.220.10 (Sports facilities)

Palabras clave:

athletic field; baseball; clay; cricket; football; natural turf; sand; soccer; softball; soil; sports field; sports; turf; turfgrass;