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/753045
www.stma.org December 2016 | SportsTurf 37 Reaching the industry professionals you want to reach! The OFFICIAL online directory: STMA Sourcebook is an online directory of manufacturers and distributors of equipment and supplies used by professional sports turf maintenance professionals, irrigation contractors, sports turf managers, professional grounds managers, custom chemical applicators, and other green industry professionals. ARE YOU LISTED? Go to STMASourcebook.com, search for your company, review, update and own your listing. Not there? You should be! Get yourself signed up today. STMASourcebook.com STMASourcebook.com ST17 Sourcebook HH.indd 2 9/28/16 8:18 AM Boettcher said in his many years at Miller Park, he's encountered very few issues with spring startup. "The biggest problems were physically damaged heads and isolation valves that had gotten some particles stuck in their components, resulting in a leaky valve," he said. Meanwhile, in Denver, McNeal said she typically starts firing up her irrigation system around April 15, starting with the athletic fields. "We have a small checklist we use as a guide," McNeal said. She also encourages her staff to create their own documents with photos to ensure the system is ready. "We work with our facilities plumbing staff for backflow issues and larger irrigation issues that may occur during startup or shutdown," she said. "The contractor handles the pump system maintenance and startup." One of the trickiest parts of spring startup in Denver is timing, she noted. "It's tricky in Colorado when the temperatures can reach 60 degrees in March, then drop to the upper 40s for a high and low 20s in April," she said. She said she watches the weather every spring to make the call, but noted while the larger backflows can handle the temperature swings, the smaller ones cannot. Knowing where the shallower pipes and smaller backflows are located is key to monitoring the system and prioritizing where water needs to be turned on and where not, she said. MAINTENANCE TIPS Like Boettcher, McNeal said a good winterization process is the best policy for a trouble-free start into spring irrigation, but regular maintenance of the entire system is as important. "We don't just do our spring startup and leave it at that," Boettcher said. Weekly inspections of the grounds throughout the season ensure that the system is functioning properly and that issues are addressed as they come up. "Our managers do the inspection," he said, primarily adjusting arc or spray patterns. "The technology in spray patterns and irrigation distribution and overall quality construction of the heads has allowed for great success of our irrigation system throughout the entire site," he noted. When baseball season hits, the pressure is also on McNeal and Boettcher to get their large irrigation systems up and running, so the fields will be green and playable and the fans can enjoy the games.