GROUNDS and PLAYGROUND MAINTENANCE

1. GROUNDS andPLAYGROUND MAINTENANCE

2. GROUNDS MANAGEMENT • The entire school grounds must be properly maintained on a routine for safety and appearance. • School grounds can be defined as the full extent of all school property, including school sites, the central office, and other administrative or support facilities.

3. This includes, but is not limited, to: • Courtyards. • Exterior lighting and signage. • Outdoor learning equipment and Playgrounds. • Modular facilities (bleachers). • Paved surfaces (e.g., sidewalks, parking lots, and roads). • Athletic fields (including synthetic surfaces such as SporTex. • Vacant property owned by the district.

4. SPORTS FIELDS

5. QUESTION? • What can be frozen, baked, trampled, starved, dehydrated, saturate, compacted, cut too short, not cut at all, overfed, underfed, sliced, probed, smothered, painted and kicked, and still survive? • Answer: QUALITY ATHLETIC TURF GRASS.

6. PROPER MAINTENANCE • Properly maintained athletic turf, physical education fields, and playgrounds can help to improve student health and safety. • Specifically, well-rooted, flat, and divot-free surfaces reduce the occurrence of leg and foot injuries.

7. ATHLETIC FIELDS • In most instances, school athletic fields are used not only by the school district, but by the local sport organizations. • Little Leagues – Football and Baseball • Lacrosse Clubs • Soccer Clubs • Field Hockey • Softball Clubs • The list is really endless!

8. DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION • Much of the poor turf in recreation areas and on athletic fields results from poor planning or management. • Improper design or construction is the principal causes for poor turf. • Many fields have been laid out almost table-top flat and poor soils have been used. • Such conditions provide neither surface nor internal drainage of excess water from the field. As a result, a saturated condition may persist for several days. • If play is permitted on the field when it is wet, the result is severe compaction and loss of soil structure, both of which interfere with air, water and nutrient movement in the soil.

9. FIELD and GRASSMAINTENANCE NEEDS • Core Aerate • Dragging • Over seeding • Fertilize • Topdressing • Irrigation • Mowing • Trimming • Planting

10. RECOMMENDED SERVICE LEVELS • RECOMMENDED LEVELS OF SERVICE FOR BASIC GROUNDS CARE: Acceptable = staff 1:20 acres Standard = staff 1:18 acres High = staff 1:15 acres • RECOMMENDED LEVELS OF SERVICE FOR FIELD AERATION: Acceptable = once (1)/year High = five (5) times/year • These recommendations must be modified to accommodate local circumstances. For example, a school district that is responsible for managing five acres of wetlands would need to adjust staffing levels to ensure the preservation of this property.

11. A quote from Floyd Perry; • GRASS GROWS BY THE INCH, • AND DIES BY THE FOOT!

12. WEAR and TEAR

13. THE BAND and theDREADED BAND CAMP. • There is nothing more destructive than the biggest boy in the band playing the Sousaphone spinning on one foot at the 50 yard line.

14. Move around a little. • If you want to see quick wear and tear on a Football Field, let the Band practice their halftime show on it. • The repetitive trampling has a bad effect on the grass. • IT WILL DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! • Find a large paved area and paint a football field on it and let them practice there. • Hold the dress rehearsal on the field for only one day and make them alternate sidelines so they march in different areas.

15. MOVABLE GOALS • Take notice, most wear areas on athletic fields are near the goal areas. • Make sure you instruct the coaches to MOVE THE GOALS DAILY. • This will allow the grass in these areas a chance to relax and grow.

16. Seven Savvy Suggestionsfor Super Sports Surfaces • Mow at least twice per week throughout the growing season. • Maintain cutting height between 1.5 and 2.5 inches. • Fertilize frequently (seven to 10 applications) throughout the season. Apply no more than 0.5 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per application. Rate should be reduced or eliminated during hot and dry periods unless irrigation is available. • Reduce overall fertilization on heavy soils by 20 to 40 percent. • Cultivate (aerify) twice per year (spring and fall). • Implement an adequate irrigation system. • Maintain general turf health to limit weed pressure and increase disease and insect tolerance.

17. PHOTO

18. PHOTO

19. Installation ofArtificial Turf Athletic Fields • Safer for student-athletes. • Cost effective during new construction or renovation projects. • Scheduling problems less likely to occur. • Greater flexibility creates opportunities for School Districts and community groups to utilize fields with virtually no down time.

20. Lower Maintenance Costs: • Artificial turf requires no mowing, fertilizing or re-seeding. • There are maintenance issues that need to be addressed but not as intense as real turf.

21. Environmental Aspects: • Aside from the environmental advantages that come from lower water use, the removal of significant amounts of fertilizer and pesticides means less chance of contaminating groundwater. • Provides safer field conditions for children. • In addition, synthetic turf is commonly made of recycled materials. (possible LEEDS certified)

22. Availability: • Synthetic turf is available to use 24 hours a day, seven days per week, 365 days per year. • Artificial surfaces don’t become muddy in wet weather. • They don’t need to lie fallow to allow recovery time from overuse.