Airfield Systems

The first step in the car park sports field project was selecting a site suitable for growing the Patriot Bermuda. Easton sod supplied a field next to the Arkansas river with a consistent water source and sandy soil for optimal growing conditions. Shown is the initial delivery of the USGA root zone and laser grading process.

The next phase at the farm was to incorporate the fibers into the top 4 inches of the root zone profile with a specialized machine called a Rotodairon. Left: Jimmy Hill with fibersoils and Zac Moore with Easton measure the depth of the Rotodairon and fibers.

Next, the process of sprigging requires a specialized machine to remove only the top layer of an established patriot turf. Once removed another machine distributes and presses the sprigs into the top layer of the root zone. After sprigging was completed it had approx. 98 days to mature before being cut and delivered to the Car Park.

The first phase of the Airfield system consisted of applying a filter fabric over the foam insulation on top of the parking garage.

The next step in the Airfield process was to cover the insulation and filter fabric with a durable PVC liner. The liner offers an impermeable surface under the soil profile to protect the roof of the Car Park and allow consistent drainage.

The Airdrain Geogrid phase consisted of thousands of interlocking grids

placed over the entire surface of the parking garage. This product offers a perched water table 10 inches below the turf. Next, 2 more layers of filter fabric were applied to the top of the Geogrid. Above: Michael Bean with

Airdrain demonstrates proper technique.

Once the Airdrain system was installed it was time for the USGA Root zone, or “soil profile”. The root zone consists of a 90% USGA spec sand and 10% Dakota peat moss brought in by Minick Materials. 3,000 tons of Root zone was needed for the project.

After allowing about 98 days to mature the sod was ready to cut. Moisture and compaction was the key to cutting the sod consistently. Above: a pavement roller was brought in to offer the compaction needed.

The laser grading at the car park required special GPS equipment attached to a box blade which acted independently of the driver. This process was performed by Bush Turf out of Illinois along with help from Total Environment. The grade of the field is within 1/10 of an inch to spec.

Left: Jimmy Hill with Fibersoils and Matt Taylor with Total Environment set the depth of the Rotodairon. Right: Once the fibers were distributed evenly by Bush Turf the Rotodairon was used to blend in the fibers into the top 4 inches of the profile.

Following the fiber installation handwork and double steeled rollers were used to press the root

zone and groom out any inconsistencies.

On August 2nd the first delivery of sod was brought to the car park by Easton. The

sod installation phase took approximately 3 days to complete in record breaking

temperatures.

As the sod was being laid and positioned the rollers were brought in again to press the sod and force the roots to

make contact with the root zone. Due to the high percolation rate of the root

zone and extreme temperatures, irrigation was crucial in establishing the

sod quickly.