HomeMy WebLinkAboutSilver View Soccer FieldDate: March 19, 2006
To: Greg Lee
From: Steve Dazenski
Subj: Silverview Soccer Field
After reviewing the e-mail that you sent me from Gary Dahle, I wanted to give you my answers as to why this work needs to be done.
Because this field is heavily used, it demands more attention both labor and materials to promote a safe playing surface.
The field will be marked with signage to prevent use by anyone. The use by Calvin Academy and the softball players warming up has not been a problem compared to what the soccer play
does to the field.
Because of the intense concentrated playing that is associated with soccer, we are experiencing large bare areas where we once had healthy turf.
What is required to bring this field back to a safe playing surface.
We must level areas (by goals, in center of field) and top dress entire field.
We must apply a starter fertilizer.
We must aerate entire field.
We must apply seed with a mechanical slit seeder.
We must water several times daily to promote germination.
We must discourage traffic with signage and by monitoring the field.
This restoration process cannot proceed until the soil temperature reaches and maintains 50 F. The seed germinates in 7 – 14 days and will not handle the stress of being played on for
45 – 60 days after germinating.
If we do not do this restoration at this time, we will end up with a field that will need a total reconstruction.
We receive our information from the classes given by the League of Minnesota Cities. The League of Minnesota Cities is the company that carries the insurance for the City of Mounds
View.
Their standards dictate that we maintain our parks, playgrounds and playing fields in a safe condition. Muddy, unleveled surfaces are not acceptable.
Fields without healthy turf are prone to noxious weed growth and can require a great deal of work to discourage this.
In the past, we have lined a field at Edgewood School that was not being used and perhaps the Soccer Association could look into this. If they could use this field they could arrange
for the City of MV to line it for them. If the Soccer Association checks with other cities i.e. Blaine, New Brighton and Fridley they really should find other possibilities. We maintain
our fields, but we do not have access to other cities fields or their schedules. That would be the responsibility of the Soccer Association.
Staff re-seeded Silverview soccer field in 2004 and strongly feels that this should be done on an every other year basis at the very minimum.
The tentative dates for this scheduled maintenance are April 17th thru June 21st and can change depending temperatures and rainfall.
We are in the process of developing a smaller scale soccer field at Oakwood Park in the near future, which should redistribute some of the usage of Silverview.
I will be out of town for the Park & Rec meeting Thursday the 23rd; Pete Szurek will be attending to answer questions.
Respectfully,
Steve Dazenski