CLEVELAND – The playing surface of William Bradley Park’s Field #3 in San Marcos, California, became uneven due to the settling of decomposing organic matter, as the park was built on a former landfill in the 1960s and was in need of attention. To prevent the playing surface from becoming a safety hazard, Project EverGreen and Hunter Industries, along with the Southern California Sports Turf Managers Association, and local landscape contractors and suppliers came together to revitalize this stretch of green space.
The project was valued at more than $31,000 in donated time and materials. It also represents an investment in the nearby residents who use the park to compete, exercise and connect with neighbors regularly.
“The young athletes and San Marcos residents are the real winners from this project,” said Cindy Code, executive director of Project EverGreen. “The renovated field now provides a safer playing surface for participants, and the enhanced public areas deliver a healthy dose of green benefits to the community.”
Gene Smith, vice president of marketing for Hunter Industries, said the project delivered environmental benefits with the addition of healthy turf, shrubs and trees to the community.
“Instead of having an area of open dirt or hardscape, we have biological materials that deliver a cooling affect and promote oxygen through carbon sequestration,” Smith said.
The renovation project included a variety of elements that will provide a sustainable platform for future generations, such as:
• Grass aeration
• Weed control
• Nutrients to improve grass health
• Installed new sod
• Field laser-level grading
• Install infield clay soil mix
• Install outfield warning track mix
• Outfield top dress sand to fill in uneven areas
• Field and shrub beds
• Irrigation repair and realignment
• New trees and shrub bed planting
• Mulching plant beds
• Repair and paint ballfield dugouts, benches, fences and backstop
• Re-seeding
Both Hunter Industries and Southern California Sports Turf Managers Association sponsored the project. Contributors were American Park Specialties, Barkshire Laser Leveling, Briggs Nursery & Tree Company, Ewing Fertilizers, Gail Materials, Landscape Solutions, Mountain States Wholesale Nursery, Pacific Play Systems, P.W. Gillibrand Company, West Coast Arborists and West Coast Turf.