Natural Grass Athletic Fields

1. Natural Grass Athletic Fields (Name of High School)

2. What are our goals? • Maintain top quality athletic facilities for students and community. • Ensure the highest level of safety for all participants and reduce sports related injuries. Sherando High School, Stephens City, VA

3. Presentation Goals • Understand the benefits and limitations associated with natural turfgrass athletic fields • Determine why a natural grass field is the most cost effective choice for high school field • Understand the necessary practices and costs involved with maintaining a quality natural grass field • Understand the importance of hiring or involving your qualified sports turf manager • How to proceed with implementing or maintaining a natural grass athletic field

4. Natural Turfgrass Fields Natural turfgrass fields are living organisms that require air, water and nutrients to survive. Quality natural turfgrass fields can be achieved with time dedicated to proper maintenance practices, limited inputs and a basic understanding of turfgrass care. The benefits that will be covered include: • Environmental benefits natural surfaces provide • Human health benefits natural surfaces provide The limitations that will be covered include: • Field overuse • Influence of inclement weather Crumb Football Field, Lexington, MA

5. Environmental Benefits Groundwater Preservation and Recharge: • Dense aboveground turf biomass traps water and reduces excess runoff which allows more water to infiltrate the soil. • Extensive fibrous turfgrass root system filters water percolating through the soil to enhance groundwater recharge. • Turfgrass ecosystems support earthworms, which contribute to better water infiltration and improved soil structure. Photo from A.J. Turgeon, Ph.D. Penn State University

6. Environmental Benefits Fertilizer or Pesticide Concerns: • Proper fertilizer and pesticide applications keep water safe. Contamination of groundwater occurs with excessive overwatering, heavy rainfall events, or when turf is dormant. • Turfgrass roots are highly efficient at uptake of applied nutrients. Therefore, there is a low potential for nutrient elements to pass through the rootzone into groundwater or be transported by runoff into surface water. • Turfgrass leaves, crowns, stems, roots, thatch, soil, and soil microbes support large populations of microscopic decomposers. These decomposers break down pesticides and other noxious organic chemicals into harmless substances.

7. Environmental Benefits Soil Erosion Control and Dust Stabilization: • The turfgrass rootzone and canopy are one of the most cost effective ways to control water and wind erosion of soil. • High shoot density and root mass provides surface stabilization to help reduce water and wind erosion. • Acts as a vegetative filter to reduce quantity of sediment entering surface streams and rivers. • Acts as a trap for dust and other particulate matter to improve air quality.

8. Environmental Benefits Atmospheric Pollution Control • Turfgrass contributes to reductions in noise levels by absorbing, deflecting, reflecting, and refracting various sounds. • Reduction in discomforting glare and light reflection. • Reduces atmospheric carbon dioxide and releases oxygen. During active growth, 25 square feet of healthy turfgrass will provide enough oxygen for an adult person for one day.

9. Environmental Benefits Restoration of Disturbed Soils • Turfgrass improves soils through the addition of organic matter. As plant tissue dies, it is incorporated into the rootzone as organic matter. This organic matter improves soil structure and provides nutrients to turfgrass systems. • Planting turfgrass accelerates the restoration of environmentally damaged areas (i.e. burned-over land, garbage dumps, eroded rural landscapes, mining operations, and steep timber harvest areas). Cesar Chavez Park, Berkeley, CA – This Bay-side park is built on top of one of the Bay Area’s largest landfills.

10. Environmental Benefits Urban Heat Dissipation • Natural turf surfaces dissipate high levels of radiant heat through the cooling process of transpiration. • High levels of heat on a synthetic turf playing surface can be dangerous for athletes and increase the potential for heat stroke, muscle cramping and overall fatigue.

11. Temperature Comparison:Natural vs. Synthetic In a 2002 study at Brigham Young University, temperatures were recorded for the BYU practice fields in June. Average air temperature was 81.42°F. C. Frank Williams and Gilbert E. Pulley

12. Human Health Benefits • Closely mown areas of turfgrass reduce the number of nuisance pests that reside in taller grasses, such as ticks, which can carry Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF). • Well maintained turf areas are less likely to have weeds that are responsible for allergy-related pollens.

13. Human Health Benefits • Aesthetics and recreational opportunities enhance physical and mental health of participants. Research shows that natural turfgrass relieves stress and contributes to the enjoyment of life. • Well maintained natural turfgrass athletic fields provide low cost, safe playing surfaces for athletes. • Fields with good quality turfgrass cover have higher traction, cushioning, and resiliency, and lower surface hardness, reducing the probability of injury in contact sports.

14. Surface Hardness • Surface hardness is important when considering injuries, particularly head injuries. • Fields can be tested for hardness using a Clegg Impact Tester or F355 device, both of which generate a value called Gmax. The Gmax generated from each device is not interchangeable. • Upper limit for the Clegg Impact Tester – 100 Gmax • Upper limit for the F355 device – ASTM sets the limit at 200 Gmax, Synthetic Turf Council sets the limit at 164 Gmax

15. Injury • The most frequent injuries sustained on sports fields are those to the ankles and knees from rotating and changing directions on the field surface. • A study at Michigan State University compared the effects of different infill materials to natural grass fields to measure rotational resistance of cleated shoes. • Results: Torque was significantly affected by field surface components. Native soil fields reported the lowest torque overall.

16. Player Preference In 2010, a survey was conducted to evaluate the preferred playing surface among NFL players. Out of 1619 players from all 32 teams: 69% preferred to play on natural grass fields. 14% preferred to play on artificial infill. 9% had no preference.

17. Player Preference On that same survey, players were asked how they thought synthetic and natural grass surfaces affected their physical health:

18. Natural Turfgrass Field Limitations – What should we expect? Overuse Scheduling too many events leads to overuse of fields. The overuse of many community sports facilities can push the limits of turf to recover. Excessive traffic leads to compaction and bare areas, which can cause a surface to be unsafe and unplayable. Solutions: rotate fields; limit field use to only necessary events; change daily location of practices on field; use portable goals to move around field; have players do individual warm-ups off of the field; execute team drills outside of painted numbers; spread seed in wear areas before games and practices

19. Natural Turfgrass Field Limitations – What should we expect? Standing water Inclement weather can lead to standing water and muddy conditions if the drainage system is not effective. This causes surfaces to be unsafe and unplayable. Solution: make sure the field is sloped properly to move water off the field; check that the drainage systems operate efficiently; utilize rain tarps

20. Natural Turfgrass Athletic Field Construction • Well-constructed sports fields with proper maintenance will perform as expected and provide the type of playing surface parents, coaches, and players desire. Short-cuts during the construction phase lead to costly problems in the long run. • Important considerations for field construction: • Selection of a knowledgeable contractor • Ensuring the field has the correct slope or crown • Selection of growing medium for the rootzone • Deciding if irrigation is an option and the source • Selection of turfgrass species

21. Natural Turfgrass Athletic Field Costs Why is a natural turfgrass field the most cost effective solution for our facility? Natural turfgrass football field at Philipsburg-Osceola High School in Philipsburg, PA

22. Construction Cost Comparison • Natural with On-site Native Soil (no added top soil or sod) - $0.60 - $0.90 per sq. ft. • Cost for one football field (57,600 sq. ft.) - $34,560 - $51,840 • Natural Turfgrass with Native Soils - $1.25 - $2.50 per sq. ft. • Cost for one football field (57,600 sq. ft.) - $72,000 - $144,000 • Natural with 4-6 inch Sand Cap - $2.60 - $3.85 per sq. ft. • Cost for one football field (57,600 sq. ft.) - $149,760 - $221,760 • Natural with Sand and Drainage - $4.25 – $5.00 per sq. ft. • Cost for one football field (57,600 sq. ft.) - $244,800 - $288,000 • Synthetic Infill System (carpet, infill, and base) - $4.50 - $10.25 per sq. ft. • Cost for one football field (57,600 sq. ft.) - $259,200 - $590,400

23. Annual Maintenance Comparison Natural Turfgrass Fields Synthetic Turf Fields • Mowing • Fertilization • Irrigation • Aerification • Topdressing • Seeding • Pesticides (herbicides, insecticides, fungicides) • Line painting • Drainage repair and maintenance • Additional Infill • Irrigation • Chemical Disinfectants • Products to reduce static activity and odors • Drainage repair and maintenance • Erasing and repainting temporary lines • Removing organic matter accumulation • Grooming

24. Long Term Maintenance Comparison Natural Turf grass Fields Synthetic Turf Fields • Renovation • Field Repairs • Repairs (seams) • Replacement every 8-10 years • Disposal cost upon replacement – Infill systems filled and topdressed with crumb rubber material that is typically made from ground automobile tires may require special disposal. Disposal costs are estimated to be $130,000 plus transportation and landfill charges.

25. Case Study – North Scott Community School District North Scott Community School District is located in Eldridge, Iowa. The District maintains a native soil baseball field, softball field, and 214,000 square feet of native soil practice fields. The school also has a football stadium field with a 4 inch sand cap and a new, sand based soccer field. School grounds and sports turf requiring maintenance totals 115 acres. All of the grounds maintenance is done in house by three full time and three summer seasonal staff members. Information provided by John Netwal, CGCS, Director of Operations for North Scott Community School District. Disclaimer: Maintenance, material and labor costs are highly variable depending on region of the country and type of facility. The following costs are based off of North Scott Community School District, and are meant to provide a realistic representation for costs involved with building and maintaining athletic fields.

26. Case Study – North Scott Community School District Field Maintenance Cost Estimates: Native Soil Practice Fields Area: 214,000 square feet Total Maintenance Cost (including labor and materials): $23,254.58 Cost per square foot: $.11

27. Case Study – North Scott Community School District • Mow • Irrigate • Aerate • Fertilizer Applications • Add Soil Amendments • Herbicide Applications • Football and Soccer Field Preparation (painting, etc.) • Overseed • Growth Regulator Applications • Insecticide Applications • Miscellaneous Supplies Maintenance Activities for Native Soil Fields: Total Labor Cost: $5,245.52 Total Supply Cost: $18,009.06 Total Annual Maintenance Cost Estimate: $23,254.58 Cost per Square Foot: $.11 Cost per Football Field: $6,336

28. Case Study – North Scott Community School District Field Maintenance Cost Estimates: 4 inch Sand Cap Football Stadium Field Area: 70,000 square feet Total Maintenance Cost (including labor and materials): $13,997.77 Cost per square foot: $.20

29. Case Study – North Scott Community School District Maintenance Activities for Sand Cap Football Field: • Mow • Irrigation • Aerate • Overseed • Sod Replacement on Sidelines • Fertilizer Applications • Add Soil Amendments • Herbicide Applications • Growth Regulator Applications • Game Field Preparation (paint, etc.) • Insecticide Applications • Miscellaneous Supplies • Stadium Preparation • Field Lighting Total Labor Cost: $4,920.36 Total Supply Cost: $9,077.77 Total Annual Maintenance Cost Estimate: $13,997.77 Cost per Square Foot: $.20

30. Case Study – North Scott Community School District Field Maintenance Cost Estimates: Sand Based Soccer Field Area: 114,000 square feet Total Maintenance Cost (including labor and materials): $20,378.49 Cost per square foot: $.18

31. Case Study – North Scott Community School District Maintenance Activities for Sand Based Soccer Field: • Mow • Irrigation • Fertilizer Applications • Paint • Aerate • Overseed • Growth Regulator Applications • Topdressing • Fungicide Applications • Herbicide Applications • Insecticide Applications • Fence-line Maintenance • Miscellaneous Products • Field Lighting Total Labor Cost: $6,113.20 Total Supply Cost: $14,265.29 Total Annual Maintenance Cost Estimate: $20,378.49 Cost per Square Foot: $.18

32. Involving Your STMA Sports Turf Manager • If you do not already have a sports turf manager for your facility, it is important to have a qualified professional who can be involved in decisions and gathering of information and costs. • If constructing a field, your sports turf manager can serve as a grow-in consultant to work with the architect and contractors to oversee the entire construction process. • On a daily basis, your sports turf manager can oversee the care of the athletic fields, maintain the budget, manage staff, and communicate with users. • Investing in your sports turf manager is important in keeping them current on industry trends and research. Make sure your sports field manager is involved with STMA for networking and continuing education opportunities. STMA also provides the opportunity to become certified. Certified Sports Field Managers (CSFMs) are recognized in the industry for continuing to improve professionally.

33. Why a natural grass field is the best decision for our high school: • Beneficial to the environment • Benefits health of users • Depending on field type, construction costs are reasonable • Annual maintenance for natural surfaces are cost effective • The majority of athletes prefer playing on a natural grass surface

34. What are the next steps? • Involve or hire an STMA Sports Turf Manager to help with decisions and the gathering of information and costs. • Organize a meeting to educate community, coaches, administration, athletes, and parents about the benefits of a natural turfgrass athletic field. • Define resources needed to maintain a quality surface for the facility. • Develop a budget. • If constructing a field, meet and/or hire architects or contractors that have expertise in athletic field construction. • Schedule meetings to keep those involved updated on progress. • Form committees to assist in logistics and fundraising.