(4-19-22) While many schools around the Stateline area are doing away with their grass football fields and installing turf fields…Marion Local has decided to renovate their current grass field facility.

Field Source out of Columbus is presently working on the field… in a tweet today they describe the process –

Installing sand slit drainage, beginning a multi-year effort to sand cap the stadium field, and optimize the maintenance program for maximum safety and playability.

What is sand slit drainage?

A sand slit drainage system is a by-pass system installed into poor draining topsoils. Sand slit drains consist of vertical channels of high drainage rate sands and gravels that intercept water as it moves across the surface. The key to their functionality is having sand to the surface so there is an easy entry point for water to enter. The sand slits then intersect lateral pipe drains that ensure rapid removal of the drainage water. It is also important to have a sand topdressing layer of at least 20 – 25mm to protect the integrity of the sand slits.

What is a sand cap?

Sand capping is a way to use a combination of surface and subsurface drainage. It is done by applying a relatively deep layer of sand on top of an existing turf area — such as a fairway — to improve drainage and playability while providing an acceptable root zone for turf growth.

According to the Field Source web site –

Consulting Firm advising clients on planning, construction, and management for safe, playable, aesthetically pleasing natural grass and synthetic turf fields.

Some of the maintenance consulting services we offer are organizational management, fertilization and weed control, irrigation, infield reconstruction, drainage repairs, topdressing, laser grading, soil aerification, sprigging and sodding, lip and mound reconstruction, and mowing.

Field Source recent projects include Circleville, Pickerington North, Pickerington Central and Eastmoor Academy.

Advertisement