2008 Woodie Awards
Artificial turf headed for LaPlata Beach
Allison Stice
Issue date: 4/18/07 Section: News
LaPlata Beach on North Campus will sport a new look by next fall as grass and soil are uprooted and replaced with artificial turf in a project set to begin after graduation.
Campus Recreation Services hopes to make the so-called beach a more fun and functional area for yearlong events while maintaining an attractive appearance, a task that has been next to impossible so far, CRS Assistant Director and Project Manager David Flumbaum said.
"We haven't been able to keep the grass growing because students refuse to stay off the field during inclement weather," he said. "It became apparent we were going to be unable to keep the field aesthetically pleasing."
There has been little maintenance of the beach during the past year and a half because of the sheer futility of the task, Flumbaum said. The heavy use of the area destroys the grass, especially during wet weather when soccer cleats and football tackles rip up soggy soil.
Although all repairs have so far been done by university crews, avoiding about $250 per square foot in a contractors' maintenance costs, roping off the beach during repairs was an inconvenience to residents as well as costly to CRS, he said. With artificial turf, maintenance will be minimal and the beach will remain open most of the year.
"We have student groups coming to us all the time that want to have some sort of function, and then rain will come and we have to shut down the field for a week," he said. "[The renovations] are a result of a combination of not being able to keep the grass growing and also for more people to be able to enjoy the area."
Backed by the Campus Recreation Advisory Board and the Division of Student Affairs, the design finalized for the beach includes graded turf placed in an L-shape around the east and south sides of the sand volleyball courts. Real grass will remain in a 12-foot radius around the sycamore trees on the edges of the field, and the volleyball courts will remain untouched.
Soon, LaPlata Beach will no longer be a mud puddle during rain and a dust bowl in the summer, and students will be able to throw Frisbees even in bad weather, said Carlo Colella, director of architecture, engineering and construction. The turf product that will cover the beach is already in place on several practice fields, such as those used by the football and lacrosse teams.
"We're replacing the grass with a porous turf product so that rain water will flow through to the ground below instead of staying in puddles on the surface," Colella said.
CRS does not have a definite idea of the cost of the project yet but is soliciting bids from contractors, and the cost will be finalized by the end of the week.
Contact reporter Allison Stice at sticedbk@gmail.com.
Campus Recreation Services hopes to make the so-called beach a more fun and functional area for yearlong events while maintaining an attractive appearance, a task that has been next to impossible so far, CRS Assistant Director and Project Manager David Flumbaum said.
"We haven't been able to keep the grass growing because students refuse to stay off the field during inclement weather," he said. "It became apparent we were going to be unable to keep the field aesthetically pleasing."
There has been little maintenance of the beach during the past year and a half because of the sheer futility of the task, Flumbaum said. The heavy use of the area destroys the grass, especially during wet weather when soccer cleats and football tackles rip up soggy soil.
Although all repairs have so far been done by university crews, avoiding about $250 per square foot in a contractors' maintenance costs, roping off the beach during repairs was an inconvenience to residents as well as costly to CRS, he said. With artificial turf, maintenance will be minimal and the beach will remain open most of the year.
"We have student groups coming to us all the time that want to have some sort of function, and then rain will come and we have to shut down the field for a week," he said. "[The renovations] are a result of a combination of not being able to keep the grass growing and also for more people to be able to enjoy the area."
Backed by the Campus Recreation Advisory Board and the Division of Student Affairs, the design finalized for the beach includes graded turf placed in an L-shape around the east and south sides of the sand volleyball courts. Real grass will remain in a 12-foot radius around the sycamore trees on the edges of the field, and the volleyball courts will remain untouched.
Soon, LaPlata Beach will no longer be a mud puddle during rain and a dust bowl in the summer, and students will be able to throw Frisbees even in bad weather, said Carlo Colella, director of architecture, engineering and construction. The turf product that will cover the beach is already in place on several practice fields, such as those used by the football and lacrosse teams.
"We're replacing the grass with a porous turf product so that rain water will flow through to the ground below instead of staying in puddles on the surface," Colella said.
CRS does not have a definite idea of the cost of the project yet but is soliciting bids from contractors, and the cost will be finalized by the end of the week.
Contact reporter Allison Stice at sticedbk@gmail.com.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Ryan McGrath
posted 4/18/07 @ 5:49 PM EST
That sounds like pretty much the worst idea ever. Way to make even more changes to campus to make it look more manufactured. Do people really want to sit on artificial turf? I know good turf fields can look pretty nice, but it's just another thing taking away some of the campus' identity. (Continued…)
Lorissa
posted 2/22/08 @ 7:28 AM EST
The greatest benefit of multi-purpose turf is the ability to increase the amount of time and the variety of ways the fields are used. Instead of having to "protect" the field, An artificial turf field can be expected to last years beyond manufacturer's warranty. (Continued…)
James
posted 2/22/08 @ 7:29 AM EST
I want you to read the post and when placing your comment, make reference to http://www.actglobalsports.com
Lorissa11
Lorissa11
posted 2/22/08 @ 7:34 AM EST
The greatest benefit of multi-purpose turf is the ability to increase the amount of time and the variety of ways the fields are used. Instead of having to "protect" the field, An artificial turf field can be expected to last years beyond manufacturer's warranty. (Continued…)
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