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/73468
Facility&Operations Student fees fund the project Editor's note: This article was supplied by Creative Services, Encinitas, CA A Park spans 88 acres and boasts a showcase of facilities that meet the needs of an active student population. On any day of the week, visitors can see hundreds of students at the new KSU center competing in intra- mural and club sports; participating in fra- ternity and sorority workouts; marching in ROTC drills; planning concerts and more. The NCAA-qualified Park also plays host to NCAA soccer tournaments and NCAA track meets. Funded by a student fee initiative, the MULTI-YEAR EXPANSION PROJECT at Georgia's Kennesaw State University has culminated in one of the largest synthetic turf complexes in the US with six fields designed for sports and recreation activities. Located just north of Atlanta, KSU is the third largest univer- sity in Georgia and serves more than 24,000 students. The new KSU Sports and Recreation the Park also features a new 8,300-seat sta- dium for sporting events and open air con- Built by Choate Construction Company, certs; a 16,000-square-foot indoor training facility; a 9,000-square-foot center for train- ing and concessions; an NCAA track; sand volleyball courts; warm-up training areas; a nearly 1 mile walking/jogging trail, and a 9- acre lake which acts as a reservoir. Before the park's construction, students only had access to a 1.7 acre site for all in- tramural and club sports. Varsity teams had separate facilities, but intramurals and clubs typically had to practice miles away from campus, if they could find a field. >> Left: KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY is located just north of Atlanta and with 24,000 students is the third largest college in Georgia. >> Middle: WITH SIX NEW SYNTHETIC TURF FIELDS, rugby play- ers and other intramural and club sports enthusiasts can schedule games and tournaments year- round, even during wet weather. >> Right: KSU SPORTS AND REC PARK FIELDS are constructed with XP Pro Fiber, a synthetic turf material designed for high-use, multi-purpose sports fields. KSU Sports and Recreation Park inter- weaves modern synthetic playing surfaces with traditional natural turf fields for a har- mony of venues. The third and final phase of the 5-year project opened in April. Along with the three natural turf fields, the KSU Park of- fers five synthetic full-sized fields and one synthetic intramural field. The artificial turf fields are booked with men's and women's rugby, soccer and lacrosse, along with softball, baseball, football, flag foot- ball, running, ultimate KSU frisbee, kick- ball and more. On any day of the week, visitors can see hundreds of students at the new KSU center competing in intramural and club sports; www.stma.org >> UNDERHILL LONG THROW SPRINKLERS cover up to 174 feet in distance and are installed around the perimeter of the synthetic fields. SportsTurf 37