Island Crest Park North Infield Turf Replacement

May 2, 2024
When this project was completed back in March, technicians performed testing on the new infield turf to measure its impact attenuation, which is the ability of the playing surface to absorb shock from a collision. Staff recently received passing GMAX test results for the north infield turf. Industry standards specify that synthetic turf fields should stay at or below a GMAX measurement of 165. Our new turf system passed with a consistent range of 91-110 across all test points. This project will be closed out with FieldTurf and KCDA in the coming months.

March 8, 2024

Photos:

1. Fans
2. Gluing
3. Infill
4. Snow
5. Snow removal

After weather delays over the past two weeks paused work, the north infield turf replacement at Island Crest Park is finished. The City’s Parks Operations and Recreation teams cleared the field of snow and set up industrial fans on Tuesday to dry the field out for FieldTurf to finish gluing and applying infill on Wednesday and Thursday. Staff, the contractor, and the consultant completed the final walkthrough this morning, and the construction fencing has been removed. The field is now open for baseball practice, and the Varsity baseball team plays their first home game on the new turf on Monday, March 11.

February 12, 2024

Photos:

1. City staff, the consultant from DA Hogan, and the FieldTurf crew walked the infield this week to inspect the gravel height.
2. FieldTurf started installing the new shock pad system for the bullpen the week of February 5.
3. A permanent pitcher’s mound replaces the portable mound previously used at the field.
4. The field will continue to feature three basepath lengths – 70’, 80’, and 90’.
5. New turf, cork infill, and shock pad systems have been delivered.

Last week, City staff, the consultant from DA Hogan, and the FieldTurf crew walked the North Infield to inspect the base gravel height before turf install begins this week. Additionally, crews built the new permanent pitcher’s mound and installed new base anchors for the three basepath lengths – 70’, 80’, and 90’.

As part of this capital project, the City is shifting from the current rubber infill system to a cork infill + shock pad system. The shock pad sits between the gravel base layer and the artificial turf layer and provides an extra layer of impact absorption, lowering the risk of injury after a fall. Artificial turf also lasts longer when installed on top of the shock pad, as the pad protects the turf from abrasion caused by the gravel base layer. Using a shock pad requires less infill, so the new turf system should also be easier to maintain.

FieldTurf started installing the shock pad layer for the bullpen area last week, and the rest of the pad, as well as the turf and cork infill, have been delivered. The crews will start installing the rest of the shock pad system and laying turf this week, pending dry weather.

January 22, 2024

Photo: Parking impacts for construction staging and access

Crews from FieldTurf plan to mobilize this week to begin removal of the old North Infield turf. Approximately 5-10 parking spaces may be closed off in the upper Island Crest Park parking lot to accommodate construction staging and access. Drive-through traffic will remain open during construction.

September 2023

Design of the North Infield turf replacement is underway, and the consultant is also evaluating vendor opportunities through the King County Directors Association (KCDA) purchasing cooperative. Staff anticipate completing the turf replacement in winter 2023/2024.