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: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/69161
trolled by August 2012. The mowing of the turf is performed by the City of Montclair on a weekly schedule. Fertilization applications occur three times a year using a 20-0- 0 in early spring and followed by two more early and late summer applications of a 16-16-16 balanced fertilizer. Though the major- ity of the park soil is a well drained sandy-rocky type, an annual application of gypsum is applied for some of the small clay soil areas of the park. Soil sulfur is also applied to maintain a pH around 7.2. Mechanical aeration is performed once a year. The young trees continue to be structurally pruned for their future health and beauty. The fertilization program is twice a year using a slow release balanced fertilizer "tablet" which is dropped down the irrigation tube. Future expansion of the subsurface irri- gation is planned to encourage rooting further out from the exist- ing canopies. The new park has provided for a multitude of recreation uses, park which include earth day for elementary schools, a plant sale and water fair, dog events and the Run for Life event. All events are supported by vendors, educators, water agencies and volun- teers who all bring their expertise for water conservation. One of the complementary adjoining features to the new District special events, education opportunities and an emergency helicopter landing site. Since the park opened with its new and improved water con- servation design, the use by the public has increased dramatically. Soccer, baseball, volleyball, walking including dog walking, medi- tation, running and picnicking are just a few of the healthy activi- ties seen in the park. Typically the District conducts three or four large events in the Wilderness Park is the California Native Oak Grove. This section of the park was built in 2005 with eight different species of Cali- fornia Oaks. It was inspired by the lone existing 250-year old (es- timated) Coast Live Oak. The development of this section of Wilderness Park removed one half acre of turf and eliminated supplemental irrigation after only three years of tree establish- ment. It too provides for educational and recreational opportuni- ties for all to enjoy and learn from. Education is a big part of the CBWCD's mission and with the water conservation themes and designs, the tree selections and ac- companying literature, the new design continues CBWCD's edu- cational mission. The park has received positive feedback and raves from the local public, out of town visitors, local business, dignitaries and local water agencies. ■ David Schroeder is a conservation specialist for the Chino Basin Water Conservation District. www.stma.org SportsTurf 29