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/714252
www.stma.org September 2016 | SportsTurf 37 www.billygoat.com Team up with Billy Goat to Beautify Your Sports Turf! Versatile Towable Aerator for deep hard soil aeration • Flexible aeration widths at 36", 48" or 60" • Foldable wings raise & lower for desired widths • 80 hardened steel tines • Manual lift raises & lowers tines with ease • Mounts to a standard tow bar or category 1, 3-point hitch • Tines swivel when mounted to 3-point hitch 440 lB 4 AcreS/hour! 30" hydro-Drive, hydro-Tine • Perfect for landscaped turf areas • AE1300H 30" • • TYPES OF DRAINAGE It's time to venture into a brief description of various drainage systems. The following are some popular options; however, any facility owner is advised to consult with a fi eld builder or manager who can help evaluate the site conditions and make recommendations. A subsurface drainage system, which takes its name from its positioning, meaning it manages water that makes its way underground) can help fi elds dry more quickly. The traditional type of drainage system for a sports fi eld has been the pipe drain which uses perforated pipe placed in the subgrade. These pipes are laid in trenches, surrounded by coarse sand or clean stone to within 4 inches of the surface of the subgrade and capped with sand. Water then drains downward through the rootzone and stops in the trench where it enters the pipe from the bottom. Drains are typically placed 3 to 10 feet apart for native soil, and 10 to 30 feet apart for sand-based fi elds. They are surrounded by clean stone or coarse sand. Another type of system exists: fl at drains, sometimes called strip drains, 6 to 18 inches wide and 1 to 2 inches thick, without a wrapping of fi lter fabric, which are placed horizontally on the subgrade during construction. They also may be trenched in and placed vertically after installation of the rootzone in either native or sand-cap fi elds. In addition, say builders, there's the least expensive (and still highly effective) sand vein system, sometimes called a sand silt system. This in particular works well in a native soil fi eld. The type of drainage chosen and all, or any combination of the factors listed above, including soil modifi cation, slope and drainage installation may be considered, will depend on a variety of factors; these include: ■ Owner budget ■ Weather conditions ■ Existing slope ■ The type of soil ■ Local regulations ■ Amount of use the fi eld receives (and whether there are other facilities that can handle games if the fi eld needs to be rested after a heavy rain, for example) It's easy to spend money on visible improvements. What's oftentimes more important, though, is knowing that even the best fl agship facility isn't going to play well if it doesn't drain correctly. It's an investment, rather than an expenditure, and it will pay you back for years to come. Mary Helen Sprecher is a freelance writer associated with the American Sports Builders Association, which sponsors meetings and publishes newsletters, books and technical construction guidelines for athletic facilities. 866-501-2722 or www.sportsbuilders.org