Building Prothro Football Practice Fields

Tom CookOregon State University

Cameron, McCarthy, Gilbert, & ScheibeLandscape Architects LLPEugene, OR

Bernhardt Golf ConstructionDarryl Bernhardt, Bob Short & CrewPortland, OR

Greg GorackeOSU Intercollegiate Athletics

Design Group

Contractor

OSU liaison

Design Features

1.Excavate existing field 2.Grade subgrade to 1.5% slope3.Head-head multizoned irrigation, Hunter heads4.Drains 15 ft on center, 8” mains, 4” laterals5.Trenches lined with geotextile fabric6.90-10 sand/organic topmix approx. 12” depth7.Sand grown perennial ryegrass sod8.Fixed goals at south end of field

Scheduled start date April 1, 2003Scheduled finish date July 9, 2003

Staging area set up at east end of existing fields

Stockpiling soil for removal

Irrigation lines trenched 2 ft deep into subgradeso drainlines could be installed above irrigation lines

Main drainline at south end of field

Double walled corrugated pipe

Drain lines trenched to a constant depth

Spreading trench spoils away from trench

Packing down trench spoils after spreading

Connecting 20 ft drain sections prior to installation

Packing bottom of trench prior to drain placement

Unprotected drain 8 yrs after construction

Laying geotextile fabric on trench prior to placing pipes

Backfilling drains with gravel

Connecting laterals to main drain

Herringbone pattern on 15ft centers

Stockpiling sand + organic topmix from Fazio Bros.

Spreading topmix in preparation for final grading

Watering to firm surface for grading

Laser Grading to produce flat surface

Finish grade slope is 1.5% from north to south

Laser beacon

Rootzone depth approximately 12”

Float and roller to smooth for finish grade

Ryegrass from Bos Sod Co. in British Columbia

Cleanup drag just prior to laying sod

Positioning sod to get tight fitting seams

Sodding finished by July 3, 2003

Jess Lewis, Field mgr.

Root depth 3 wks after sodding

Two-a-day practices started about 5 wks after sodding

Turf appearanceafter 2 wksof preseason practice

How did it turn out?

1.Fixed goals = conc. wear at south end2.Worn areas lost stability3.Turf recovered well after season started4.Need to rotate drill locations more