http://www.synturf.org/maintenancereplacement.html Lots to read, but here is just one example of an unhappy customer. "Flooding" caught my eye. Proponents to artificial turf would probably say that the type shown in the photo is not what is being considered. Even so, when Cedar Blvd. floods again, all those little pellets (infill) are going to float away. School District, check out No. 76...
[No. 77] Ridgewood, New Jersey: Costly face job on artificial turf field. This is the story that keeps on giving – first the flooding, then the clean up, and now a wrinkle removal procedure for the artificial turf field that got shriveled in the face of heavy rains that reminded everyone why some places are called flood pain and not very suitable for a million-dollar artificial turf installation. For previous posts on the plight of Ridgewood, see http://www.synturf.org/waterdamage.html (Items No. 14 and 15). According to the news report in The Ridgewood News (April 27, 2011), “The final repair of the wrinkles left on new turf installed on Ridgewood High School's (RHS) Stadium Field after flooding this month [April 16] cost the school district about $21,000, Superintendent Daniel Fishbein disclosed at a Board of Education (BOE) meeting Monday night.” Fishbein stated that the cleanup was being conducted by the district's contracted custodial company, "so there's no additional costs." “However, when The Ridgewood News questioned Fishbein during the public comment portion of the [Board of Education] meeting about the cost of hiring an outside company, LandTek, to repair the turf wrinkles, the superintendent reported that the field repair in fact cost about $21,000. "I'm sorry. There was a cost for LandTek. I neglected to say that," he said, adding that he considered the repair of the wrinkles a "correction" and not a "clean-up" cost. For more, please go to Kelly Ebbels, “Ridgewood turf field's 'wrinkle release' costs $21,000,” in The Ridgewood News, April 27, 2011, available at http://www.northjersey.com/news/120734824_Ridgewood_turf_field_s__wrinkle_release__costs__21_000.html . Go to the site for a picture of the wrinkled field.
14 comments:
Wonder how many games were lost and if a natural grass field would need $21,000 in repairs after heavy rains.
Seems on a grass field it would dry natural in acouple of days, some raking and debris removal and the fields back in business.
The other question is if we had artificial turf and we had a rare flooding of Wildcat/Middle who'd come up with the $21,000?
I suspect in a worst case senario a group of volunteer parents could if they had to, make a natural grass field playable with rakes and bags of dirt. There's no way they could rehab an artificial turfed field.
In "edubabble" this Superintendent tried to circle the wagons and lie to the public. He got caught when he was questioned -just like the YSA and Jan Klein got caught with their different answers to various RTK requests about the missing YSA payments.
In politics the truth always comes out. Some of our newer elected officials on the Board and Commission haven't learned that lesson yet.
So is Wildcat in a designated flood plain? If so, they can't put turf in there anyway.
No, it is not a designated floodplain, at least not right there. The floodplain is on Painters Run. http://www.alleghenycounty.us/munimap/profile.asp?muni=73
The artificial turf would need one heck of a drainage system which costs big bucks. Then the maintenance goes way up because the pipes need to be cleaned out regularly due to the silt buildup. These pipes also freeze causing icing, especially in the Northeast, so to play year around on artificial turf is a stretch.
Care to comment, Dave?
Elaine
Rumor has it that the reason why the turf was replaced prematurely at the high school is because during the Feb. 2010 snow storms, someone had the brilliant idea to dump the snow in the stadium. The drainage system was crushed from the weight of the trucks and the snow.
Elaine
That turf lasted only 8 years if memory serves.
So every 8-10 years we're looking at beaucoup replacement costs... Think about it folks.
Another thing is the worry of vandalism and stupidity that could occur and would void any warranty, leaving the municipality stuck for full replacement.
On a grass field how hard is it to fix dirt?!
I still think the site needs an environmental study. There's no way that a lot below all the surrounding acreage won't be a problem, especially if you're talking about putting in an underground drainage system.
That article is bogus. Superintendents never say - I'm sorry. At least ours doesn't !!
Parks and Recreation's Ron Swanson has the answer. There ya go, RG.
Elaine
Hey July 23 8:59 AM...did you attend or did you view the District video on their website of the 2012 commencement ON THE STADIUM ARTIFICIAL TURF ? Hundreds of metal chairs, women in high heels, etc. which would void any warranty and shorten the useful life of the turf system. There have been other warranty-busting events on this turf and will be in the future cause of the arrogance, stupidity, and high mindedness of the administration and board.
Did you notice the stupid grin on the face of the Super during the ceremony ? That will be his expression when told the turf needs major repairs because of misuse & abuse. Maybe the YSA will promise to pay for it.
9:17 that's part of the reason the last turf only lasted 8 years. The stupidity, arrogance and high- mindedness is why we had such sloppy maIntenance in the high school, such as taping windows.
Do you think the MO is going to change around here just because we're spending $113 million on a high school ?
Have no fear. The YSA has proposed to have the School District maintain the two municipal fields on Cedar.
Elaine
A suggestion or maybe a plea.
Whether you're pro- turf or anti- turf there are 5 commissioners that need to hear what the community thinks on the issue.
It takes attending the meeting night or as little effort as emailing your opinion to the commissioners.
Don't miss the opportunity to express your opinion pro or con. It is a big deal, get involved.
[No. 35] Liverpool, New York: The bubbling turf field is still closed! Corrections 12/3/2010. The fate of the quarantined artificial turf field at Liverpool High School Stadium is back in the news. As reported in July 2008 (http://www.synturf.org/maintenancereplacement.html -- Item No. 22), the officials closed the 10-year old artificial turf field in December 2007 because its surface had developed potholes and soft spots. According to a news item in The Post-Standard (November 24, 2008), the school district is back to deliberating what to do next with the stadium. “The field's surface bubbled and district officials have not been able to determine what caused that to happen,” according to the news report. According to Liverpool’s acting athletic director, Mark Potter, “It kind of looks like a miniature golf course, it’s not flat.” Having been rebuffed twice before by the voters, a group called the “stadium committee” now recommends that the school board consider sending what it calls a “bare-bones” proposal to voters for approval in February 2009. This time the proponents of the fake-grass field have cut from their proposal such amenities as expanded parking, a new press box, restrooms, concession stand, scoreboard, field lights and visitor bleachers. Source: Catie O’Toole, “Liverpool Stadium Committee to address school board tonight,” in The Post-Standard, November 24, 2008, available at http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2008/11/liverpool_stadium_committee_to.html .
SynTurf.org Note: Here is the irony – The proponents of artificial turf fields often pitch their quest with the help of a slide show that compares a brand new artificial turf field with some pathetic looking natural grass field with potholes, standing water and dirt. How interesting that after 10 years a turf field that cost $100,000s to $1 million is in no better shape than a natural grass field that costs a lot less to install and care for. Our advice to the Liverpool voters – for the sake of human health and the environment and your pocketbook - go with a natural grass field for a fraction of the cost of an artificial turf field. Who knows, maybe there will be enough money left over to get the amenities too!
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