Central Region Little League - Stokley Field - Step 2

Back to Central Region Little League......

The project is coming along nicely. We have managed to dodge the rain. The first photo below shows the initial installation of a french drain that will run along the entire outfield perimeter of the warning track, right outside the new fence. The drain will be able to remove 15+ inches of rain in 24 hours.

The next two photos show the initial laser grading of the rootzone and sub base for the new infield mix

The infield is graded at .5% using a conical laser and the outfield is graded at 1%. There is no subsurface drainage on the playing surface.

To see the first two blog posts on this project, click HERE and HERE

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.

Play on!
--Jamie

What is Going on With That Field? - Indianapolis Colts/Anderson University Training Camp Fields

Actually, it is spring transition of patriot bermuda grass at Anderson University. The fields are used by the Indianapolis Colts for training camp. The fields are a modified native soil rootzone. The patriot was sodded last summer in advance of training camp.

The fields performed well last year for camp. After the conclusion of camp, the fields were available for play by Anderson athletic teams. During the late fall, the fields were lightly overseeded through the middle with annual ryegrass. The field also had the “normal” contamination of annual bluegrass over the fall/winter. So, Katana herbicide was applied to the fields 12 days ago.

The first photo was the field in mid April (Before the Katana application). Notice the bermuda grass was still dormant, although there were plants greening up close to the soil. Notice the green cool season turf.

Now look at the field! The annual ryegrass is in decline and the bermuda is greening up quickly.

Notice on the bottom right of photo above, cosmetic damage was done to the bermuda due to golf/utility cart traffic while the bermuda was dormant.

Here is a up close photo of the field. As you can see, the majority of the bermuda has made it through the winter and is greening up while the ryegrass is yellow and declining quickly.

The next shot is from the same spot as the close up, but looking down the field. As you can see, the angle you are viewing the turf can aid in determining how much bermuda is in the field after the winter. Also notice that the last area to green up in along the NFL hash marks. Do you think traffic makes a difference in transition?

The plans for the field is a solid fertilizer program this summer with frequent aerification and topdressing. The field will be able to achieve 100% cover in a couple of weeks.

The SmartTurf blog will follow this field throughout 2011, as I believe that bermuda grass is going to be a great option for central indiana fall use athletic fields in the near future.

To learn more about Katana herbicide, click HERE.
To learn more about Anderson athletics, click HERE.
To see an earlier post on bermuda spring green up, click HERE.

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.

Play on!
--Jamie

Central Region Little League - Stokley Field - Step 1

After numerous weather delays, the project at Central Region Little League Headquarters started yesterday. The photos below are the early steps of the project.

The first photos show the rotovating of the existing vegetation. This phase of the project is being handled by our partner with the project, Emch Brothers, from Woodville, OH. The 100 horse power tractor is turning over the old turf. This process will take approx. 7 hours.

The photos below shows the removal of the existing brick dust infield. This material is being stockpiled on-site. A new four inch column of Dura Edge Classic will be installed and laser graded. This engineered soil is a great choice for little league play.

To see the first blog post in regards to this project, click HERE

To learn more about Stokley Field, click HERE
To learn more about the Central Region Little League Headquarters, click HERE

To learn more about Dura Edge Classic, click HERE

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.

Play on!
--Jamie

A Tale of Two Infields

Late last week I stopped by two different sites in Fishers, IN. Both sites have different infield mix profiles.

The first stop was Billericay Park. This park is the site for youth baseball in Fishers. The photos below show the new infield profile. The profile is 2 inches of a crushed limestone base. On top of the limestone is 2 inches of engineered soil, Dura Edge Classic, from Natural Sand Company. At this level/age of play, the fields are performing very well. Another example of how to make engineered soils work for your facility.

The photos below show the infields after 4 days of rain last week. As you can see, the infields were worked up slightly, approx 1/4 inches to break the surface tension and dry the conditioner. All the fields at Billericay Park are conditioned with 1/4 inches of Diamond Pro Red Infield Conditioner.

The next stop was at Hamilton Southeastern High School. This field had playability last year due to poor product usage and a layering problem. The infield profile was brick dust in 2009. In 2010, 1/2 inch of Sandridge infield mix was installed and not tilled into the brickdust. Norm Hummel, an independent lab in NY state tested the infield mix profile. FieldSaver 50 was applied to the infield and the brickdust, Sandridge, and FS 50 was blecavated together and then laser graded. Finally the field was topdressed with 1/4 inch of Diamond Pro Red Infield Conditioner. The field is playing great this year, even with the 4th wettest April in Indiana history.

The photos below show the mix and the grade of the infield. As the photo shows, the infield is graded to allow for surface drainage from the front edge of the infield to the back arc.

The final photo below is a facility photo showing protective netting. This photo was taken at Billericay Park. This park has some of the best protective netting in the state.

To learn more about Billericay Park, click HERE
To learn more about HSE baseball, click HERE

To learn more about the Natural Sand Company, click HERE
To learn more about Diamond Pro, click HERE

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.

Play on!
--Jamie

Do I Need Drainage on My Recreational Fields? - Cyntheanne Park

I get that question all of the time.

I stopped by Cyntheanne Park in Fishers yesterday. J&D Turf graded and grew in these fields from the fall of 2009 to Aug 1, 2010. These fields, 5 total at 100,000 sq ft per field, were laser graded and a .8% crown was placed on each field. Between each field is a drain swale with storm drains. There are no subsurface drain tiles under the fields. The fields were seeded with 100% Kentucky bluegrass. After the 4th wettest April in the history of Central Indiana, the fields looked great and were dry.

The conclusion, hire a experienced sports turf contractor and invest in laser grading and positive surface drainage. If those three items are covered, the need for subsurface drainage is reduced greatly on recreational fields.

Field #1

Looking East

Field #5

Looking West

To learn more about Fishers Park and Rec, click HERE.

To learn more about Cyntheanne Park - there are a couple grow-in photos, click HERE

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.

Play on!
--Jamie

Dunker Field - FS 50 and a New Backstop

Today I was at Dunker Field. The field is the home for Noblesville High School Baseball. The infield mix had and SCR of over 6 in 2009. The field was sloppy when it was wet and very dusty and hard when dry. The answer, one FieldSaver 50 application and 2 loads of Dura Edge Classic. Now, the SCR is under 1.5 and the infield mix is balanced and playing extremely well.

Here is a photo of the infield this morning

I also wanted to include a couple of photos of the new backstop and the dugout netting. The backstop is a great example of a backstop that can be netted without an expensive wall. Stainless steel eye bolts are attached directly into the concrete. The dugouts allow for the players to stay warm in the sun this time of year and still have protection from foul balls.

To learn more about Noblesville Baseball, click HERE

To learn more about your SCR and Engineered Soil Technology, click HERE.

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf

Play on!
--Jamie

A Few Photos from Last Week

Below are a few photos from my travels last week.......

First, a couple of photos from the baseball field at Ohio Dominican in Columbus, Ohio. What a great setting for college baseball!

To learn more about ODU Athletics, click HERE.
To learn more about ODU Baseball, click HERE.

The next two photos are from Indiana University’s Memorial Stadium. The surface here is FieldTurf. The recent renovations to the facility are very impressive!

To learn more about IU Athletics, click HERE.
To learn more about Memorial Stadium, click HERE.

The final photo is from Slugger Field in Louisville, KY. This Kentucky bluegrass field is in great shape. Tom and his guys are doing a great job with numerous rains, tarp pulls, and the highest Ohio River water level since the stadium opened.

To learn more the Louisville Bats, click HERE.
To learn more about Slugger Field, click HERE.

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.

Play on!
--Jamie