Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
4 SportsTurf | May 2010 www.sportsturfonline.com
FEATURES
SportsTurfFIELD SCIENCE8 Target Field opens in Minneapolis10 NTEP requests your participation
and comments12 Turfgrass challenges at
Sidwell Friends School18 Better fields in spring come
from work in the fall20 New type of perennial ryegrass
good in traffic
FACILITIES & OPERATIONS22 Value of hands-on education28 Dirty dozen, plus two, tournament tips30 Synthetic field bases 10
IRRIGATION & DRAINAGE34 Alternate water supplies
for sports turf irrigation
FIELD OF THE YEAR38 Infinity Park outside Denver
survives flood to win Sporting Grounds category
Posing on Infinity Park’s rugby pitch: Top row, L to R:Bobbi Reed, General Manager, holding Jackson
Bertrand; Shelby Norris; MackennaNorris; Linda Cassaday, Deputy CityManager; and Jenna Anderson, YouthCoordinator and Lady Raptor. Bottomrow: Andre Bachelet, Rugby HighCommissioner and Raptor; MeganBertrand; Josh Bertrand, Manager ofTurf Operations; Caroline Bertrand;and Raptor Mike Tafel.
MAY 2010 | VOLUME 26 / NUMBER 5In this issue
6 From the Sidelines7 STMA President’s Message17 John Mascaro’s Photo Quiz41 STMA In Action43 STMA Chapter Contacts43-44 Marketplace45 Advertisers’ Index46 Q&A
Fire Ants
On the cover
Infinity Park outside Denversurvives flood to win Sporting
Grounds category
38
Led by manager of turf operationsJoshua Bertrand, the crew at
Infinity Park in Glendale, CO a sub-urb of Denver overcame a floodedfield in June to win the Sports TurfManagers Association’s 2009 Field
of the Year in the Schools/ParksSporting Grounds category.
8 12 22
DEPARTMENTS
n page 22 of this issue is an article entitled “Value of hands-on education” writtenby Troy McQuillen, an assistant professor is the Golf Course Athletic TurfgrassManagement program at Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, IA. In ithe describes how Kirkwood intertwines course work with practical in-the-fieldexperience to produce graduates “who are ready to enter the workforce” as
Professor McQuillen puts it.McQuillen says that while education comes in many different forms, there is an increasing
value being discovered through use of hands-on; his description of Kirkwood’s program is goodreading for educators and students alike.
Though we’ve heard the phrase “value of education” enough times to have it go in one earand out the other, like “eat your vegetables,” you can’t get around the fact that educating your-self most often leads to better, more interesting jobs and potential for increased salary.
I have a relative through marriage who would like to teach at a regional technical collegenear his home. This guy is bright; he’s a commercial pilot, runs another business from hishome, and managed a successful garage/machine shop for many years. He’s more than qualifiedto pass along his knowledge and experience to another generation—but he never earned adegree beyond high school. And even though the college would like to hire a guy with his skills,by law they can’t because he doesn’t have the needed credential.
Here’s another illustration of how working on those credit hours might pay: During theSTMA Conference awards night last January, Dr. Tony Koski of Colorado State received theDr. William Daniel Founders Award, which represents excellence in turf education andresearch. While accepting his award, Dr. Koski pointed to numerous “Rams” in the audiencewhom he had as students, including STMA Past President Abby McNeal, CSFM, and STMAPresident-Elect Troy Smith, CSFM. Think there’s a link between great teacher, motivated stu-dent and successful careers? You betcha.
And access to classes has never been easier, with the caveat of course that furthering youreducation costs money. I won’t bore you with numbers but suffice to say, spending some cashfor a degree, whether it’s a 1-year, 2-year, 4-year whatever, truly is an investment in your futurethat can pay off later.
GILLEN IS NEW STA PRESIDENTPaul Gillen, president of AerWay, recently was elected President of the Sports Turf
Association. Paul is a long-time supporter of this magazine, the STMA, and related events andcharities.
“This is an exciting time for the STA as we look to grow into the future. We are fortunate tohave very knowledgeable and dedicated people serving on the STA board,” Paul said. “I lookforward to working with them and learning from them as we work hard to fulfill the needs andmandates of our membership.”
1030 W. Higgins RoadSuite 230Park Ridge, IL 60068Phone 847-720-5600Fax 847-720-5601
The Official Publication Of The Sports TurfManagers Association
PRESIDENT Chris Calcaterra, M.Ed., CSFM, CPRPIMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Abby McNeal, CSFMPRESIDENT ELECT Troy Smith, CSFMSECRETARY/TREASURER James Michael Goatley, Ph.D.COMMERCIAL VICE PRESIDENT Chad Price, CSFMPROFESSIONAL FACILITIES Larry DiVItoHIGHER EDUCATION Ron Hostick, CSFMK-12 Martin Kaufman, CSFMPARKS & RECREATION David Pinsonneault, CSFM, CPRPACADEMIC Pamela SherrattCOMMERCIAL Rene AsprionAT LARGE Jody Gill, CSFMAT LARGE Kevin Meredith, CSFM
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Kim Heck
STMA Office805 New Hampshire Suite ELawrence, Ks 66044Phone 800-323-3875 Fax 800-366-0391Email [email protected]
EditorialEXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Charles FormanEDITOR Eric SchroderTECHNICAL EDITOR Dr. James BrosnanART DIRECTOR Brian SnookPRODUCTION MANAGER Karen KalinyakEDITORIAL DIRECTOR Richard Brandes
STMA Editorial Communications CommitteeJim Cornelius, Chad Follis, Dale Getz, CSFM, CSE,Jody Gill, CSFM, Brad Park, Greg Sacco
SportsTurf (ISSN 1061-687X) (USPS 000-292) (Reg. U.S.Pat. & T.M. Off.) is published monthly by m2media360, aBev-Al Communications company at 1030 W. HigginsRoad, Suite 230, Park Ridge, IL 60068. POSTMASTER:Send address changes to Sportsturf, P.O. Box 2120, SkokieIL 60076-7820. For subscription information and requests,call Subscription Services at (847) 763-9565. Subscriptionrates: 1 year, $40 US & Poss.; 2 years, $65 US & Poss.; 1year, $65 Canada/Foreign Surface, 1 year, $130 Airmail. Allsubscriptions are payable in advance in US funds. Send pay-ments to Sportsturf, P.O. Box 2120, Skokie, IL 60076-7820. Phone: (847) 763-9565. Fax: (847) 763-9569. Singlecopies or back issues, $8 each US/Canada; $12 Foreign.Periodicals postage paid at Park Ridge, IL and additionalmailing offices. COPYRIGHT 2010, SportsTurf. Materialmay not be reproduced or photocopied in any form withoutthe written permission of the publisher.Member of BPA Worldwide.
SportsTurfSportsTurfEric SchroderEditor
6 SportsTurf | May 2010 www.sportsturfonline.com
FromtheSidelines
OEducation pays off
he old adage “When the going gets tough, the tough get going” is so evident intoday’s economy. I see examples of our members not only doing more with less,but implementing field management plans that have eliminated fundamentalpractices. Although this is definitely not a good thing, the silver lining is thatbudget reductions have challenged all of us to be more innovative in our
day-to-day practices.That innovation can also have a profound impact on the future of our facilities, if we take
the opportunity now to define that future. When things seem overwhelming, conducting strate-gic planning within your organization can help to open up future possibilities. A strategic plan-ning exercise can also help to set priorities and retool your operations now to achieve short- andlong-term successes. An example of this within our own organization is our SAFE Foundation.Charitable giving was down this year, which has affected SAFE. That organization’s Board ofTrustees just spent several days in a strategic vision session to design a new future for ourFoundation. You’ll hear more in the coming months about SAFE’s strategic direction.
Now is also the time to focus on you. The stress of managing your facilities with fewer dol-lars and personnel can take its toll on your personal and professional lives. Faced with too muchto do with too few resources can be unbearable and can cause inaction. A way to move beyondthese difficulties is through professional development. Make a commitment to spend just 15minutes a day learning something new that will positively affect your career. An easy place tostart is STMA’s website, www.STMA.org. The Resources tab on the public side has very richtechnical content, and the Members Only side offers even more, including a Career Center.
Members typically use the Career Center to check out job openings or find an assistant orintern. We’ve added career enhancing articles and comprehensive job descriptions for a SportsTurf Manager and an Assistant. I encourage you to share these position descriptions with yourHuman Resources department. Although you may not be responsible for every function listedin the descriptions, these are meant to be very comprehensive and position you as the expertand a professional.
The STMA is committed to continuing to enhance the website. As you navigate around thewebsite, please let us know what information and educational resources would be valuable toyou. Also, please evaluate how easy to use you find the website. We are at the beginning of awebsite redesign and welcome your input. Please contact headquarters with your suggestions.
I hope your spring season has been successful and that you are ready for the challenges ofsummer sports. Remember that we have the perfect opportunity to create our futures now. Ifyou can envision it, you can make it happen!
Chris Calcaterra, CSFM, CPRP
SportsTurf 7
President’sMessage
M2MEDIA360PRESIDENT/CEOMarion Minor
VP OF FINANCE AND OPERATIONSGerald Winkel
VP OF CIRCULATION AND COLLATERAL SALESJoanne Juda-Prainito
PRODUCTION & OPERATIONS DIRECTORMary Jo Tomei
DIRECT MAIL LIST SALESCheryl Naughton [email protected]
SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES
Phone 847-763-9565 Fax 847-763-9569
REPRINTS
Cheryl Naughton [email protected]
Account Representatives:
Joy Gariepy16267 W. 14 Mile Rd., Ste 202 Beverly Hills, MI 48025 • Ph: 248-530-0300, ext. [email protected]
J.F. Purcell135 E. 55th St., 5th FLNew York, NY 10022 • Ph: [email protected]
Bruce Loria626 Wilshire Blvd., Ste 500 Los Angeles, CA 90017 • Ph: [email protected]
Classified Sales/Marketplace:
Glenn DatzPhone: 213-596-7220Fax: [email protected]
PUBLISHER’S NOTICE: We Assume No ResponsibilityFor The Validity Of Claims In Connection With ItemsAppearing In Sportsturf. Reader Service Numbers AreGiven To Facilitate Further Inquiry. Commercial ProductNames Are Used For The Convenience Of The Reader.Mention Of A Commercial Product Does Not ImplyEndorsement By Sportsturf Or M2MEDIA360, OrPreference Over Similar Products Not Mentioned.
www.stma.org
TTake care of yourself in tough times
8 SportsTurf | May 2010 www.sportsturfonline.com
FieldScience | By Steve Peeler
ON APRIL 10, 2010what started as adream years ago forthe MinnesotaTwins will become
reality. Target Field in down-town Minneapolis opened itsgates for its first-ever OpeningDay. There has been a lot ofexcitement throughout theTwins community as well as inMajor League Baseball. Nomore indoor baseball after 30years. It is exciting for Twins, aswell as the players, fans, andeveryone who likes the greatoutdoors of the NationalPastime.
The process was all but deadbefore it finally began. There
was discussion of
selling the team and relocating.There was even the rumoredpossibility of league contractionwith the Twins. Finally, afterthe negative alternatives weredismissed, a positive outcome ofa new open air stadium venuewas decided upon and plansbegan for the yet-to-be-namedTarget Field.
Initial groundbreaking beganmore than 3 years ago in an oldparking lot at the edge of down-town Minneapolis. In fact, onesection of the parking lotremained within the ballparkinternal playing field until it wasexcavated in June of 2009. Itwas to be used as a surface foroff loading of the large precastconcrete forms to construct the
seating bowl of the ballpark. Sports Fields, Inc. of Canton,
GA was selected by MortensonConstruction and the Twins totackle the huge, time-con-strained undertaking for build-ing the playing field for theTwins. In normal circumstances,the entire area of the playingfield subgrade is cleared andready for construction process tobegin. However, Target Fieldwas no ordinary circumstance.Large cranes would occupy theplaying field area. Only center-field and right field would beavailable at the beginning of theplaying field construction. Spacewas extremely limited outsidethe ballpark due to the densedevelopment of the urban citythat had existed for years prior.
Due to these conditions, theperformance of all major con-struction activities such as seat-ing, lighting, and concessionshad to be performed from thefuture playing field surface.
In close coordination withMortenson, the Twins HeadGroundskeeper, Larry DiVito,and several other subcontractors,we were able to alter the fieldconstruction activities to accom-modate the conflicting condi-tions without compromising theextremely demanding schedule.The constant need for perfec-tion that coincides with profes-sional sports continued to be achallenging obstacle to fulfillwith consideration to the aggres-sive duration of the field instal-lation.
Without hesitation, theprocess of establishing the sub-grade began. It was discoveredthrough the geotechnical reportsthat existing soil present on thesite was not suitable for sub-grade fill, and therefore would
Target Field opens in Minneapolis
Target Field would then become one ofthe only MLB stadiums to have a stateof the art hydronic heating systemwhich was designed to accommodatethe seasonal shading of the field.
Photo by Wayne Kryduba, Minnesota Twins
www.sportsturfonline.com
have to removed and disposed off site. Next,18 inches of select fill was to be installed,compacted, and laser graded. Additionally, itwas also tested and approved to meet thestringent specifications of the field design.
Following the select fill, installation ofsubsurface drainage began. Cranes still occu-pied the infield and left field sections, there-fore the centerfield and right field sectionswere completed first. Drainage laterals wereinstalled using 6-inch perforated HDPE pipeconnected to an 18-inch solid HDPE collec-tor from the field access gate in left field tofirst base.
In addition, a looped 18-inch collectorline would encircle the entire playing fieldand connect to a concrete drainage detentionvault just in front of the bullpens in left cen-ter field. Once the drainage installation wascompleted then it was time for irrigationinstallation in the NE and SE sections. Afterinstallation of a geotextile fabric over thesubgrade, a 4-inch depth gravel blanket wasinstalled above the select fill, drainage, andirrigation piping.
As the erection of the precast continued ina clockwise direction throughout the bowl,the use of cranes would decrease as the finalsections of left field were completed.
According to original schedule, the last cranewas to be disassembled and transported offthe field on August 20, 2009. Realizing thatthis date would not allow adequate sod estab-lishment before winter, Mortenson achievedan actual date of July 30, which allowed thefield construction to begin before the originalscheduled date. Good weather, diligent exe-cution by experienced contractors, and a lotof hard work allowed an early finish for thissection of the playing field.
Target Field would then become one ofthe only MLB stadiums to have a state of theart hydronic heating system which wasdesigned to accommodate the seasonal shad-ing of the field. We and our team designedand installed approximately 38 miles of Pextubing, control valves, and header pipeabove the pea gravel layer. The tubing wouldbe filled with around 8,000 gallons of a 40%glycol solution to prevent freezing duringMinnesota winters and carry heat to therootzone for optimum growing temperaturesduring the fall and early spring. The processwill also keep the ground from freezing solidduring the harsh Northern winters.
The rootzone mix profile is 10 inches indepth composed of a specially blended mixthat is 97% athletic sand and 3% peat. The
selected sand was different from the typicalUSGA specification that normally is theindustry standard and the change was madeat the direction of the architect, Populous,and the Twins in order to more closely repli-cate the characteristics of the rootzone onthe custom grown bluegrass sod.
According to the project specifications,the sod installation was to be completedwithin 24 hours of harvest. This durationincluded an 830-mile refrigerated truck jour-ney originating in Colorado. Additionally,the Twins requested the sod installation notto occur to the peak daytime temperatures.The sod deliveries were received late in theafternoon with installation occurringthroughout the night.
After sodding was complete in lateAugust all that remained were the finishingtouches on the infield skin, warning track,and mound. Each layer was laser graded,compacted and surveyed for a total of fivetimes through all the lifts to meet the exact-ing tolerances. ■
Steve Peeler is the Director of Sports FieldProject Management, Sports Fields Inc.,Canton, GA.
FieldScience
10 SportsTurf | May 2010
THE NATIONAL TURFGRASS EVALUATIONPROGRAM (NTEP) wants to hear from its
customers. An eight question survey isnow posted on the NTEP web site atwww.ntep.org/contents2.shtml. NTEPwants to know where you are from, whatcultivar information is important to you,why you visit the NTEP site, and how NTEPmay improve its data presentation. Thereare also several opportunities to providecomments on NTEP’s programs and serv-ices.
The survey is a new vehicle in NTEP’sefforts to better connect with its cus-tomers, step one being finding out moreinformation about who visits the NTEP web
site and why. This survey will help NTEPredefine its programs, data collection andpresentation methods, to provide the bestinformation for customers and clientele.NTEP will share the results of its survey withanyone that provides contact informationwhen completing the survey.
NTEP, established in 1981, coordinatesevaluation trials and publishes objectivedata on turfgrass performance. For addi-tional information on NTEP or the trials,visit http://www.ntep.org or contact KevinMorris, NTEP Executive Director, at(301) 504-5125.
NTEP requests your participation and comments
www.ntep.org/contents2.shtml
NTEP, established in 1981, coordinates evaluation trials and publishes objective data on turfgrass performance.
