www.greenmediaonline.com July 2014 Green Media 19
Is it a good representation of an irrigation consultant's role?
Maybe down the road. As we see more slippage of the market
— more design-build and other solutions that don't involve
just irrigation — the irrigation consultant's role might have to
expand significantly into more than effectively developing and
managing water resources.
ASIC: Any new design or business trends in athletic fields that
appear to be emerging?
JLB: A couple of things. We've seen a shift from high-
performance turf and irrigation systems to more modest proj-
ects, mostly due to restrictive budgets in this slower economy.
With the popularity of artificial turf, our primary business has
fallen off a bit.
Artificial turf became pretty popular in the professional
ranks, and now is becoming more popular at the high school
and park & rec level. More recently, however, we're seeing an
inkling of a movement back to real grass. I think it's related to
the current generation of artificial turf products. There's really
not much history or background on the performance of these
newer products, and decision-makers really have to evaluate
claims by manufacturers with no ability to validate them.
We're seeing quite a few second surface replacements in
fields, about every 8 to 10 years. Because the artificial turf safety
issue is still up for debate, and certain artificial fields promote
higher injury incidents, there's a prevailing feeling that artificial
turf is okay, but grass is re-emerging as the preferred surface.
There's also been a movement to large pay-for-play facili-
ties, like big joint county-city projects of 15 to 20 soccer fields
where fees are charged for use. We're starting to see the higher
end of those facilities coming back to turf, as well.
So those are trends we're experiencing. What's to come?
I absolutely believe there will be intensive new regulations in
water sourcing very soon. I further expect this trend to be a
great opportunity for the irrigation and sports turf industries to
be a huge part of an integrated green infrastructure paradigm.
When we look toward the development of unknown irriga-
tion technology, we see stadiums and facilities using their fields
as water harvesting and water polishing enterprises, so stadium
and grounds rainwater, storm water and wastewater will be
collected below the sports fields, then polished in a system and
reused in the facility. We've been looking at this for awhile.
The challenge sports turf managers have is that they're in
control of very little. Few get to decide the field or facilities
they have to work with. They have to become empowered to
be in position to make a difference. They certainly have the
knowledge and aspirations.
These things are coming, and sports turf managers should posi-
tion themselves for more control over their professional destiny.
ASIC: What about water sources? How has that evolved over
the last decade? Should we be moving away from using potable
water for irrigation?
JLB: Clearly, water is being subsidized; its cost still is nowhere
University of Kentucky Football Practice Facility.