Landscape Science/Engineering — Sportsfield Consulting

Sports fields must be able to withstand extremely heavy use, must be usable during or immediately after periods of heavy rain, and, in some cases, may not receive adequate ongoing maintenance. The successful design of fields requires in-depth understanding of several factors including internal soil drainage, surface runoff, planting media and turf blends. P&S has addressed these issues for both the initial design and the rehabilitation of numerous sports fields utilizing in-depth knowledge of drainage design, soil chemistry and turf management. Some of the specific issues P&S looks at relative to sports fields are described following the link. More...>>

Drainage

Sub-Surface Drainage: The capacity to move water through the soil and to prevent saturation of the growing media is essential for a successful sports field. An evaluation of internal soil drainage characteristics and ground water conditions must be made to determine the need for potentially costly subsurface drainage. P&S's geotechnical expertise and the company's unique sampling capabilities allow for thorough, cost-effective field investigations. Surface Grading: Surface gradients affect the amount of infiltration of rainfall. Optimum gradients can vary depending on topsoil and subsoil conditions and whether or not a field is irrigated.

Growing Media

Grain Size: The grain size distribution of a growing medium affects internal drainage, water holding capacity, compatibility, and nutrient retention. P&S has developed optimum grain size distributions for the construction of new play fields which balance these factors for both irrigated and non-irrigated conditions. By comparing the grain size distributions for an existing field with our optimum standards, P&S can determine the reduction in use capacity and the need for increased maintenance. Modification of grain size distribution is often a cost effective strategy to be considered.

Soil Chemistry: The chemistry of the growing medium affects the availability of nutrients and can even affect soil structure. P&S can analyze existing soils to evaluate current conditions and to determine whether it is advantageous to utilize more or less frequent applications of soil amendments and whether top dressing or full incorporation of amendments is more cost effective.

Turf

Turf Analysis: P&S can examine turf areas to evaluate wear, presence of diseases, types of grass and general condition and make recommendations for disease control, maintenance, and the introduction of new seed types to increase wear.

Planting Mix Design: The optimum seed mix depends on the anticipated level of maintenance and, in some cases, visual quality considerations. P&S has developed recommended mix designs for various conditions.

Maintenance

Regular Maintenance: P&S has developed recommended maintenance procedures depending on field use and budget and environmental constraints. P&S's familiarity with different maintenance approaches allows us to evaluate the effectiveness and cost of different strategies. P&S has also developed formulas to predict maintenance costs based on existing soil and drainage conditions and to evaluate the cost of ongoing high maintenance with the costs of capital improvements which may reduce the need for maintenance. Environmental Issues: High use, high quality sports fields require relatively intensive use of fertilizers as well as periodic applications of herbicides and pesticides. When sports fields are located near environmentally sensitive areas including aquifer protection zones, these practices are increasingly in conflict with public concerns and with regulating agencies. P&S has developed maintenance procedures and integrated pest management practices specifically designed for sports fields. Utilizing our background in environmental chemistry, we have evaluated herbicides and pesticides for potential environmental impact and can make appropriate recommendations to meet maintenance requirements as well as regulatory and environmental concerns. Less...>>

Profile Project

Arlington Sports Fields

P&S was hired by the Town of Arlington Parks and Recreation Department to analyze conditions for thirty sports fields at sixteen locations. The fields had been subjected to overuse and required extensive rehabilitation. Soil, drainage and turf issues associated with each field were identified and existing and projected use patterns were analyzed. P&S then made specific recommendations for reconstruction, rehabilitation or improved maintenance for each field and prioritized improvements on a townwide basis. P&S also developed formulas to compare the capital costs for soil and drainage improvements with increased maintenance costs if such improvements were not carried out. A townwide maintenance program was established to ensure that the value of capital improvements to upgrade the fields would be retained.

Before

After

Profile Project

Charles River School Sports

Site analysis for reconstruction of heavily used sports fields at a private school. Recommendations included in-place modification of topsoil to improve internal soil drainage and infiltration systems to protect adjacent wetlands as well as nearby private wells. In response to concerns raised by the Dover Conservation Commission relative to maintenance procedures and materials in an environmentally sensitive area, P&S developed an Integrated Pest Management system (IPM) to ensure the ongoing success of the fields while minimizing the use of herbicides and pesticides.

Before

Representative Sports Field Projects

Weymouth High School Sports Fields, Weymouth, MA
Analysis of soil and drainage conditions for reconstruction of sports fields built on former peat bog. Recommendations for preloading to reduce future settlements.

Brooks School Sports Fields, Andover, MA
Analysis of surface and subsurface drainage conditions causing deterioration of recently constructed sports field. Design of subsurface drainage system to stabilize slope and protect field area.

Mile Lane Sports Fields, Ipswich, MA
Site analysis of existing agricultural fields for construction of soccer, lacrosse and baseball fields within a Zone II Aquifer Protection Zone. The site was designed to address Conservation Commission concerns regrading ground water protection. A subsurface drainage network and wetland system were designed to treat surface and subsurface water prior to discharge to a stream. An Integrated Pest Management maintenance program was developed to allow for intensive use of the fields with minimal use of herbicides and pesticides.

Gloucester Landfill Sports Fields, Gloucester, MA
Recommendations for drainage control, slope protection, and soil and planting requirements as part of the capping of a former landfill. Drainage design was based on the presence of a shallow impermeable membrane.

High and Middle School Sports Fields, Ipswich, MA
Site analysis for construction of new playing fields for construction of a new High School/ Middle School sports complex including recommendations for subsurface drainage design and modification of topsoil to accommodate anticipated high intensity use.

Easton High School Sports Fields, Easton MA
Analysis of problems with recently reconstructed sport fields. Issues identified included over-compaction of both topsoil and subsoil as well as poorly draining topsoil. Due to a need for near term use of the fields, a program was developed to loosen and modify soils in-place to meet planting deadlines.

Hormel Stadium, Brighton, MA
Site analysis for rehabilitation of a stadium football field including issues of soil compaction, surface and subsurface drainage, poor turf and areas with salt contamination. P&S developed soil mixing systems, recommended soil amendments to modify soil chemistry and provided design guidelines for surface and subsurface drainage.

Joseph Lee Playground, Boston, MA
Analysis of surface and subsurface drainage problems for rehabilitation of track and football field constructed on random urban fill conditions including areas of demolition fill and peat.

Belmont High School Athletic Complex, Belmont, MA
Analysis of soil resources and surface and subsurface drainage conditions at seven-field sports complex. Design of subsurface drainage system and loam modifications. Analysis of pond to determine its capability of supporting increased withdrawals for upgraded irrigation system.

Newton Country Day School, Newton, MA
Analysis of loam and subsurface drainage conditions for reconstruction of sports fields. Design of subsurface drainage system to address high ground water conditions. Recommendations for amendments to loam to improve playing conditions.

Friends School, Cambridge, MA
Analysis of settlement issues associated with existing field constructed over former landfill area. Analysis of surficial drainage conditions causing flooding at newly constructed section of school.

Cawley Stadium, Lowell, MA
Soil investigation to determine cause of settlements and deterioration of sports stadium. Recommendations for loam modification and field reconstruction.

Additional Private Schools and Colleges

Phillips Academy, Andover, MA
University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth Campus, Dartmouth, MA
Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA
Saint Sebastians School, Needham, MA
Hillside School for Boys, Marlborough, MA
Noble and Greenough School, Dedham, MA
Saint Mark's School, Marlborough, MA

Additional Municipalities

Battery Park City Ballfields, New York, NY
Hudson River Trust Ballfield, New York, NY
Town of Westford, Stoney Brook Sports Field Complex, Westford, MA
City of Nashua, Southwest Park Sports Field Complex, Nashua, NH
City of Brookline, multiple fields, Brookline, MA
City of Boston, multiple fields, Boston, MA
City of Cambridge, Fresh Pond Sports Field, Cambridge, MA

Additional Public Schools

Wilmington High School, Wilmington, MA
Lincoln-Sudbury School System, Sudbury, MA
North Andover High School, North Andover, MA
Norton High School, Norton, MA
Hull Middle School and High School, Hull, MA
Frontier Regional High School, Deerfield, MA