exposed at the field surface and were less than one foot from the playing field—certainly not an ideal situation from either a playa- bility or safety standpoint. So when it was time to replace the turf, the quick connect water couplings and boxes were moved to the outer edge of the turf, well beyond the playing field, and all cleanout boxes were lowered beneath the playing field surface. In addition, there may not have been infrastructure installed during the initial field construction projects that are now desirable or nec- essary. Other considerations that should be included in the assessment of the existing turf field are whether the field requires a shock pad or if any new permanent embedments are needed in the turf (i.e., sleeved goals, mounting standards for track cameras, sleeved netting systems, etc.). Making all upgrades before installation of new turf, not after, is the best practice due to the complexity of cutting the turf and completing base modifications without creating long-term issues with the base or associated turf product. If you are in tune with the field's regular use and maintenance practices, you can develop a sense of how the field has performed and what the perception of the field is by the user groups. This knowledge is the most important information in making decisions for the turf replacement process. A design professional who has com- pleted many field replacement projects can be a valuable resource to guide you in the process of how to remove the old turf, complete any modifications or repairs to the base or adjacent areas surrounding the
>> FIELD GRAND OPENING
field (such as needed infrastructure improvements), and assist in de- veloping technical documents for the new field installation. By com- bining the determination of your needs with the knowledge and experience of a professional, you can achieve a smooth transition be- tween the old and new—synthetic turf, that is. ■
Devin Conway, PE, is principal, Verde Design, Inc., Santa Clara CA.
www.stma.org
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