40 SportsTurf | May 2015 www.sportsturfonline.com
WAUKEGAN
SPORTSPARK,
Waukegan, IL
Category of Submission: Schools/Parks
Softball
Sports Turf Manager: Noel T. Brusius
Title: Park Maintenance Worker III – Turf
Manager
Education: AS- Anoka Tech; BS–UW Oshkosh;
Field of Study: GIS, Turf Management
Experience: 1999-2004: Oshkosh Area
School District – Athletic Field Maintenance
Worker; 2005: St. Paul Saints – Ground
Crew Intern; 2006-2007: Detroit Tigers –
Grounds Crew; 2008-2010: Peoria Chiefs/
Bradley University – Head Groundskeeper;
2011-Present: Waukegan Park District –
SportsPark/Athletic Fields Turf Manager
Original construction: 2010
Rootzone: Native soil; 21% sand, 79% other.
Other mix is 38% silt and 41% clay
Turfgrass variety: 70% Kentucky Bluegrass:
Rush, Award, Freedom III, P105, and 30%
Perennial Ryegrass: CSI, DoubleTime. Each
year the Waukegan SportsPark custom blend
seed mix is evaluated for new varieties.
Overseed: Due to nature of sport played on
our softball fields, overseeding efforts (bud-
get, labor, time) are incorporated with the 13
natural turf soccer fields on site. Softball Field
C totals: Seed-a-vating performed 3 times/
year (rate varies); 9/25/l3 = 15 lbs, 6/9/14 =
25 lbs, 9/15/14= 10 lbs. Other areas (corners/
edges/sidelines/position areas) seeded as
necessary throughout season: 5/16/14 = 7
lbs, 6/13/14 = 15 lbs, 8/20/14 = 3 lbs. Total
for season: 75 lbs. Also, soil is amended with
gypsum in late fall applications @ 500#/acre.
Drainage: All four softball fields were
graded in uniform plane diagonally at a
consistent 1.25% slope from home plate to
warning track.
FIELD OF THE YEAR
The Field of the Year Awards program is made possible by the support of sponsors Ewing, Graff's Turf, Hunter Industries and World Class Athletic Services.
