SportsTurf provides current, practical and technical content on issues relevant to sports turf managers, including facilities managers. Most readers are athletic field managers from the professional level through parks and recreation, universities.
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/50965
The facility's overall design and construction excellence, combined with its ability to balance the needs of two large public entities and multiple stakeholders, won it honors among those in the athletic facility construction industry as well. irrigation. Planted swales of porous material in the parking lot col- lect water for native shade trees and use it for passive irrigation in order to help reduce the 'heat island' phenomenon. In fact, this water, plus that caught off fields is all directed to storage tanks and helps offset water use by nearly 200,000 gallons per year. Further eco-friendly touches abound: A local bus stop en- courages use of mass transit, rather than personal cars. Occu- pancy sensors are located in the restrooms for lighting and ventilation, as well as daylighting, and help save on energy costs. Recycled materials were used in the construction of the rest- building. room storage "The largest source of certifiable green products was the lami- nated engineered wood roof framing; in fact, exposed structural element can be seen in the restroom storage building. The wood is sourced and certified as sustainably grown and certified." Patterson also notes that much of the materials used in con- struction was manufactured within 500 miles of the project, and that some of it came as close as seven miles away from the jobsite. LDG worked with Lone Mountain Contracting, Inc. (Bosque Farms, NM) which acted as general contractor for the 26-acre project. STAYING IN THE BLACK A good sports facility can act as an economic engine for an area. The Eco-Park sees a variety of use from all levels of athletes, and according to Patterson, "has brought immediate press and recognition to the town." The facility's overall design and construction excellence, com- bined with its ability to balance the needs of two large public enti- ties and multiple stakeholders, won it honors among those in the athletic facility construction industry as well. Alexander Gusdorf Eco-Park was honored as an outstanding single-field facility in the annual awards program sponsored by the American Sports Builders Association (ASBA), the national organization for builders and suppliers of materials for athletic facilities. In addi- tion, the Eco-Park was honored with ASBA's Green Facility of the Year Award, presented to the sports facility showing the highest standards of excellence in earth-friendly design and construction. Patterson notes the project was years in the making, but was worth every minute. "LDG worked with the town of Taos for over a decade to envision, lay the groundwork and eventually build this facility." And that's only phase one. Phases two and three are yet to come, and will include an 87-kilowatt solar array, two more FIFA-certified fields (one of which will be artificial turf), chang- ing rooms, volleyball courts, a playground and a concession area. Count on it all to be green, and count on it to bring in the ath- letes and keep the focus on Taos. ■ www.stma.org SportsTurf 39