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/96775
quests for budgets, consultations etc.) seems to be encouraging." So where does that leave us? With choices. Sometimes they're difficult, sometimes they're easier than others. According to the book, Sports Fields: A Construction and Maintenance Manual, sports field managers facing field construction or improvements can help by suggesting options to lessen the financial burden. Some concessions to be considered: • Do you need a completed facility now or can you wait a while for fencing, lighting, seating or other aspects of the project? If some aspects will be delayed, be certain to include the means for future additions (extra conduit for future lighting, piping for future irrigation, etc.) in the initial phase. • Have you decided upon a given surface or specific site, or are you willing to consider alternatives? Seeking creative solutions to budgeting issues can be accomplished—but it must be done in the planning stages. Once construction has begun, change may not be www.stma.org easily accommodated, or if it is, it may wind up causing more delays and costing more money—the exact opposite result you were striving for. The book also notes, "In budget planning, consider not just initial costs but also costs of accessories and amenities to be added later such as goals and maintenance equipment. The cost of financing should be considered. Consider also the long term plan for the use of the facility. Before committing to a project, be certain that you can afford the schedule of maintenance, as well as a reserve for eventual repair and/or replacement. Expert and diligent maintenance is necessary to extend the useful life of fields." While budget planning can be intimidating, it can open the door to possibilities for more economical options. In fact, in some installations, project owners have taken the concept of saving money, and elevated it to a whole new level. Sam Fisher of Fisher Tracks in Boone, IA watched a high school build a competition-quality track and field facility by using community donations and input. "Local people came in with tractors and backhoes and did what they could," noted Fisher. "They did a lot of fund-raising too, within the school." The former facility had become dangerous and unusable, and had to be completely demolished before any work could begin. But with the town firmly behind the effort and merchants and residents contributing everything from materials to labor to monetary donations, a new facility was built, and came in 25% below budget. (The facility currently has a 400-meter all-weather rubberized track encircling a natural turf football field, with field events, restrooms, concessions, seating for home and visiting fans, a press box, parking for cars and buses and more.) Fisher points to it as an example of community involvement that can help finance a project. Schinner, too, has seen schools working to raise funds for their own projects as well. "Booster groups are becoming a bigger part SportsTurf 15