HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006 11 13 Awards and Presentations 100 Professional Grounds Mgmt Society Grand Award
COMMISSION AGENDA
ITEM 100
Presentation
November 13,2006
Regular Meeting
Mgr. Dept.
Authorization
REQUEST:
Parks and Recreation Staff Presenting the Professional Grounds
Management Society "Grand Award" for Central Winds Park.
PURPOSE:
To present to the City of Winter Springs the Central Winds Park, National
A ward and to show the digital photographs submitted to receive the award.
CONSIDERA TIONS:
· The Professional Grounds Management Society presented its Green Star "Grand A ward"
for Central Winds Park on November 4,2006 in Columbus, Ohio.
. The "Grand Award" is the highest National Award that a Landscape can receive. The
program acknowledges Central Winds Park as one of the Nations Top Grounds. The
award is for the entire park (not just the ballfields).
· The Professional Grounds Management Society is the oldest Grounds National
Organization in the county and was formed in 1911.
· The Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS) is a non-profit, volunteer-run
organization dedicated to serving and advancing managers of grounds for all specialties
and disciplines. The ultimate goal of PGMS is to place its members on the cutting edge
of leadership in the Green Industry by developing techniques and management skills to
assure an outstanding grounds management program for their respective organization,
agency, department, firm or employer and to upgrade the level of the profession.
· There are over 1,200 members that came from every State in the U.S., Puerto Rico,
Canada, Europe and Japan. Its membership represents the broadest range of Green
Industry Professionals. It is made up of Turf Professionals, Horticulturists, Arborists,
Irrigation Professionals, Landscape Contractors, Central Managers, and Grounds
Superintendents. They represent Colleges, Universities, Cities, Parks and Recreation
Facilities, Ball Parks, Schools, Office Parks, Apartment Complexes, Hospitals,
HotelslMotels, Cemeteries, Retirements Communities, Museums, Theme Parks, etc.
. The award was given at the 34th Annual Green Star A wards Program. The overall
quality of entries and professionalism is very high in the field of grounds management.
The awards program brings National Recognition to grounds maintenance with the
highest degree of excellence. Very few facilities nationally receive the Grand A ward.
Centrals Winds Park is truly a "National Award Winning Park".
FUNDING:
N/A
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Promote through local media, League of Cities, and Statewide.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Entry Form and Fact Sheet.
COMMISSION ACTION:
ATTACHMENT #1
2006 Grounds Management Green Star Awards
OfficiaI Entry Form and Fact Sheet
Please PRINT CLEARLY or type the information requested
below. Check for accuracy. This information will be used
for publicity purchases and awards. Each entry must
include this completed form and the entry fee: PGMS
members $150; combination PGMS membership and entry
fee - $275; nonmembers - $225. Please make checks
payable to Professional Grounds Management Society.
Send complete entry and fee to:
Grounds Management Green Star Awards
Professional Grounds Management Society
720 Light Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
Phone:
Name of site:
(Name to be used on placque)
State:F:L. Entry Category#:" 9 PARK
Name of company or agency owning this landscape:
CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS
Address: 1126 EAST STATE ROAD 434
Signature: ALAN GREENE
Title: ~.p AR.K:S.~ RECREA TION. DIRECTOR
Who is responsihle for maintaining this landscape?
...! In-house staff Outside contractor
Address: _~L2 6 EAST ST A T~.....EOA]L~J~L.
City: WINIERSPRIN..G9;tate: FL_. zip:32708_
Telephone: _~..L__..1z.] -_!i5 92 _.____
Year site was built:_l.292__~~~____
Years I have maintained this site:
rot,ll Acres M,lintained
Acres of turf:
73
Acres of display beds:
Total paved area: ~.~_
3
5
Numher of Employees
Full time (year ruund): __ _8
Other (please specify): ____
Licensed Pesticide Applicators:_ 2
Total labor hI'S per week: _____321)
Annual expenditures:__ $301L..452
Seasonal:
I.-.
Total I~udgl'l fo~ this site $ 5 6 5 295
IIlcludlng salaries: '
Equipment: n~EE _~_IT.~~_!lED ~_~_~n
Chemicals and fertilizers: SEE A TT~_g,_~EP.__
Seed and plant material:_. _SEK.ATTAGHED
Special maintenance challenges:
._ .SEE..AITAGH M..E NI.______________..__.
Special projects completed in the last two years:
SEE ATTACHMENT
If selected as a winner, I request that the Award read:
Name of Site: _J~E1iI_RA..L_HI_ND_S__.PAR1C_
(please print)
Important: please provide the name of the person who
wi II be accepting the award at the banquet:
ALAN GREENE
(please pri nt)
I certify that all of the information provided on this
form and in the accompanying entry is accurate to the
best of my knowledge. I understand that no materials
will be returned and that all material may be used for
publications, promotional purposes, or for other
purposes deemed appropriate. I also certify that all
photographic images are true representations of the site
and have not been altered in any way. I understand that
any award submissions that the judges have determined
to be altered will be returned to the entrant and the
entry will be deemed ineligible. I furlher under,land
that all deci,iolJS of the judges are final.
(Signature of entran~~ Date
G:.-----
ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED BY AUGUST 4, 2006
Professional Grounds Management Society
Grounds Management Green Star Awards
Central Winds Park
Winter Springs, Florida
In Central Florida, nestled away in the City of Winter Springs, there is a jewel of a
Community Park waiting to be discovered. Residents of Winter Springs are already
familiar with it, since it is a centerpiece of the town. It is the Central Winds Park - "The
Fields of Excellence" and it may be one of the most incredible finds in all of the Orlando
area. Central Winds Park is a 103-acre complex, situated about 20 minutes north of
downtown Orlando. It contains two baseball fields, two softball fields, four soccer fields
(all Tifway 419 Bermuda Grass) and the Parks and Recreation offices. Other features
include two playgrounds, a nature trail, two sand volleyball courts, two horseshoe pits,
an outdoor basketball court, two large pavilions, two concessions stands, and a ten-acre
amphitheater where you can spread out a blanket and watch the Bald Eagles fly over or
perch on a light pole. Added to the complex two years ago were two more baseball,
softball, and soccer fields, as well as two new football/lacrosse fields and grass parking.
All of these fields are the Sea Dwarf variety of Seashore Paspalum Grass on 27 -acres.
Central Winds Park has been pleasing the 33,321+ residents of Winter Springs
for Thirteen years. The complex was built by the city with a three-million-dollar bond
issued in 1992. It has grown right along with the city, becoming a gathering point for
families throughout the area. Nearly every resident of Winter Springs has been
impacted, either through the sports programs, the quiet passive area, the Fourth of July
Celebration or the numerous other special events hosted there. In addition to providing
community activities, Central Winds Park is position adjacent to Winter Spring High
School, which often utilizes the complex for big tournament games, and special events.
Part of what makes Central Winds Park stand out so much is the sheer beauty of
the complex. The fields are a lush green. The flowerbeds are beautiful and the complex
itself is thoroughly modern and immaculate in appearance. The fences, sidewalks,
foliage, and buildings are designed, constructed and kept up well. Visitors will be
amazed that the complex is fourteen years old. They very quickly will feel right at home
and in the mood to celebrate sports. Each set of fields has their own unique
characteristics that deserve note.
The baseball fields are composed of Tifway 419 Bermuda Grass, with an original
infield cut similar to the Arizona Diamondbacks. They boast Crimson Stone warning
tracks and bullpen areas. They are completely fenced and lighted, with six 80-foot
concrete poles with a total of 32 Musco SVC-Z, 1500-watt lamps. There are two sets of
aluminum bleachers, with a 180 person seating capacity and protective shade cloth.
Score is kept on new remote electronic scoreboards from modern Plexiglas score
booths. Each field is equipped with two ground level concrete dugouts, with drinking
fountains. The softball fields carry the same level of quality as the baseball fields.
These fields have a skinned clay infield and a 300-foot outfield fence with a clay-warning
track. Games are illuminated by six 80-foot concrete poles, each with 40 Musco SVC-Z
1500-watt lamps. Seating capacity is also 180 on aluminum bleachers, with protective
shade cloth. Each softball field is equipped with the same remote electronic
scoreboards of the baseball and softball fields. Central Winds boasts four full-sized 330
foot by 195-foot soccer fields. Each lighted field is equipped with portable goals,
portable team and spectator benches, and drinking fountains.
For ten months every year, Central Winds Park uses these fields for a variety of
baseball, softball, and soccer programs - Babe Ruth Baseball and Softball, AAU
Baseball, and Youth Softball Tournaments, to name a few. This year, 2600 games were
played at Central Winds Park, with nearly 130,000 participants and spectators. The
commitment to quality at the complex has brought praise from around the country.
Twice is has been the recipient of the "Award of Excellence" by the Fields of Excellence
Program. John Deere recently chose Central Winds Park as the featured complex in its
JD Sidelines Magazine. Floyd Perry, of G.M.S. Sports Field Maintenance Services,
was very impressed with his recent tour of the facility. ''There aren't too many parks and
recreation fields like yours" Perry brought a group of Athletic Facility Managers from
throughout the United States to see the park on December 3, 2003 as part of Athletic
Business Conference. Michael Hurd of the City of Winter Haven, home of the Cleveland
Indians spring training complex, was also extremely impressed. "In my years in the
sports turf industry, having been to complexes all over the United States and Canada,
your complex stands out a one of the best - if not THE best."
Lastly, "Central Winds Park" was selected by the Sports Turf Managers
Association as the best Parks and Recreation Sports Complex in the Nation on January
23, 2004.
All of this praise does not come easily. There is an incredible amount of work
that goes into the upkeep and maintenance of these fields and the entire park. Many
view Florida as an ideal vacation spot. However, residents of the state can easily
understand the difficulties of keeping up any kind of vegetation in the subtropical climate.
Winter brings sudden freezes and months of very dry weather, which very easily and
quickly can kill an entire field. Spring and summer are known for their sudden, violent
thunderstorms and local flooding. In addition, Florida averages temperatures in the mid
to upper 90's for half of the year. On top of all of those variables, Florida is in a prime
tropical storm and hurricane zone. Lastly, Central Florida is known as ''The Lightning
Capital of the World" - which wrecks havoc with electrical, computerized, and timed
systems. It is not easy to judge the weather and to determine how exactly to work the
fields.
That is where the Central Winds Park staff's care and training come into play. It
would have been very easy for the fields to be destroyed repeatedly by the years of 50-
plus inches of rain, severe droughts, and even four big hurricanes. However, Central
Winds Park has been able to stay as beautiful as even the most expensive professional
or college-owned complex.
Central Winds Park is truly a treasure to the area of Central Florida. It is a place
for the community as a whole to come together. As cities are more and more spread
out, local sports programs and beautiful multi-purpose parks, become increasingly
important for communities to stay together. Thanks to top-notch sports programs and
events at Central Winds Park, the City of Winter Springs is able to stay a close-knit
community. It is more than just a place to play - it is a place for lives to be touched.
That is a responsibility Central Winds takes seriously, and one that they do with
EXCELLENCE.
CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS
PARKS AND RECREATION
CENTRAL WINDS PARK BUDGET
103 ACRES
This is the budget for Twenty-Five-Acres of Two Baseball, Two Softball, and Four
Soccer Fields (All Lighted and Fenced) and Twenty-Four-Acres of Two Soccer, Two
Softball, One Football, and One Lacrosse Field. A Seven-Acre Outdoor Amphitheater
Area, a Two-Acre Dog Park, a Thirty-Acre Tree Lined Passive Park Area, a Seven-Acre
Youth Football, Lacrosse and Overflow Parking Area, a Park Maintenance Shop Area,
Parking for 500 Vehicles and Two Large Playground Areas.
Staffing: Eight (8) full time employee for the park
Repair and Maintenance to Grounds
Repair and Maintenance to Equipment
Miscellaneous (uniforms, tools, protective
equipment, employee training, fuel, etc.)
$ 306,452
$158,215
$ 39,156
$ 60,572
TOTAL
$ 565,295 per year
KEY ELEMENTS OF THE BUDGET ARE:
1. The Eight (8) Full-time staff members are very dedicated to field and grounds
maintenance schedules, work efficiently and ask for help when needed.
2. Repair and Maintenance to the Grounds includes money to purchase Fertilizers,
Insect and Weed Control, Annuals, Tree Work, Rye Grass Seed, Etc. that keeps the
entire park healthy and looking excellent year round.
3. Repair and Maintenance of Equipment includes money to keep the mowers in good
operating condition. In addition, the other park equipment is maintained for
scheduled and unscheduled use on the fields and in the park.
City of Winter Springs
Central Winds Park Equipment Log
1994 John Deere 3235 32 HP 110" cut 5 Gang Reel Mower
2001 John Deere 3235B 32 HP 110" cut 5 Gang Reel Mower
2006 John Deere 2653A 18HP 3 gang 72" cut reel mower
John Deere 220 walk-behind Greens reel Mower and trailer
John Deere 2030 PRO GATER with Cab and HD200 sprayer with 21' spray boom
John Deere 2030 PRO GATER with Dump bed
John Deere 1200A Field and bunker Rake
John Deere Walk-behind Aercore 800 (Plug)
Five (5) John Deere 4X2 turf Gators Utility Vehicles
John Deere Gator CX Utility Vehicle
John Deere 1600 Wide Area Mower 57 HP Turbo with 128" cut
Two (2) John Deere 737 60" Zero turn mower
John Deere HD75 17HP Mower W/54" Deck
John Deere HD45 14HP Mower W/36" Deck
Two (20) John Deere JX 75 21" aluminum-Deck walk-behind mower
John Deere 5325 67HP tractor
Lely 1650 Ib fertilizer spreader
Tore Versa-Vac
John Deere 4300 Tractor With the following attachments:
550 Tiller
280 S SHATTER AERATOR (Spike)
516 Rotary Cutter (Bush Hog)
430 Loader WI Bucket
261 Groom Mower
48"Rotadairen Tiller
Bobcat 773
Blue Bird Sod Cutter
Turfco Edge Cutter
80 LB Lesco 4Hp walk behind Spreader
TV Crop Quick-Pass Top Dresser
Tore Workman 3200
1998 60" SCAG Turf Tiger Mower
3500 PSI Pressure Washer
Hand tools by Still:
Saws,026,MS250,MS310
Weed eaters Five (5) FC75, and one FS 250 hard blade
Stick edger's Five (5) FS 85
TS 400 Cut Saw
Back Pack Blowers Two (2) BR420
CENTRAL WINDS PARK MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS
Mowing: The fields are mowed every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; weather permitting at a one-inch
height-of-cut. Pattern direction is changed each time to ensure proper growth, to eliminate compaction,
and to guarantee a professional appearance. A John Deere 3235-B five-gang fairway mower is used.
The mowers are adjusted; back lapped, and receives routing maintenance once a week. The
Amphitheater area and back are mowed minimally once a week at three to four inches with the John
Deere 1600 wide area mower with a 128" cut.
Fertilization: In June and October, soil analysis is conducted on all fields. With the results of the soil
analysis, fertilizer vendors are then consulted to establish the fertilization program. All of the unique
variables of the area and climate are considered - weather, growth rate, amount of use, and the product.
Once a program is established, application is made every four to six weeks at 200-300 pounds per acre,
depending on the product used.
Aeration: An overall four to six inch aeration with two passes in different directions are conduced a
minimum of four times a year (March, June, and September, November). High compacted areas are
aerated as needed. A John Deere 4300 Tractor with a John Deere Aer-Way 280 is used.
Weed Control: In the pre-emergence stage, 15-5-15 W/.67 Ronstar is applied in mid March at 200 Ibs.
per acre. In the post-emergence stage, Manage, MSMA, Trimec, and Basagran are used as needed.
Insect Control: Telstar-Precise Acephate Granule is applied. Spray Orthene WSP is administered as
needed. Amdro and Telstar are used for spot treatment of fire ants.
Overseeding: This is conducted in November at the rate of 300 pounds per acre with a three-way
perennial rye grass blend. A starter fertilizer 3-20-20 at 300 pounds per acre accompanies the rye
application. As the weather warms up consistently, we transition back, cut the water off totally and
aerate.
Topdressing: This is done in late June, during summer down time. It follows aggressive four to six inch
aeration, and is applied with silica sand at Y.t to ~ inch depending on field condition.
Field Marking: Fields are painted weekly with Prime Strip Aerosol Line Striper.
Stencil: "Fields of Excellence" is 20ft. X 40ft in size, and painted with aerosol marking in three colors
(blue, white, & yellow). It is painted for opening spring seasons and for special tournaments.
Resodding: During down times (June and November), High traffic areas are re-sodded.
Clay: The clay used is a 70/30 mix with Turface pro mixed in as recommended by manufacturer. Fields
are watered down and rough dragged with the John Deere 1200A Bunker Rake and allowed to dry, and
then mat dragged on a daily basis. Home plate and the bases are hand raked. Warning tracks are
dragged and hand raked near the fence. Batter box, circles, and sidelines are dry line marked with All
Pro plus Athletic Field marker for games, as needed. Grass along the clay is edged monthly.
String Leveling: This is done as needed by the field staff during the season to ensure proper drainage
of the clay areas, which helps eliminate rainouts.
Laser Leveling: This is done once a year depending upon the amount of rainfall received during the
rainy season. Laser leveling ensures proper drainage of the in-fields and eliminates most rainouts.
Tree Work: Tree trimming is done twice a year. The Oak Trees are trimmed during the month of
December because there are no games or events in the park. The Palm Trees are trimmed in late June
prior to the July 4 Celebration of Freedom in the park.
Plant Material: We replace all the plant beds twice a year. In the fall we use the prestige red (landscape
variety) of Poinsettia (6 ~ pots) with Alyssum or Dusty Miller as a border (4" pots). In the spring, we
always visit our local nursery suppliers and pick two varieties of Coleus that will be stunning and look
great until fall (4" pots).
SPECIAL MAINTENANCE CHALLENGES
Irrigation Operations: We maintain 116 irrigation zones. Of those, 53 zones put out .40 of an
inch per hour; 50 put out .93 of an inch per hour and 13 zones put out .45 of an inch per hour.
We have eight hours of run time per day, so it is difficult to apply enough water to replace what
has lost according to the evapo-transpiration (ET) rates.
Irrigation facts - 6"PVC 660'/4"PVC 5045'/3"PVC 2090'/2 }'2 "PVC4480"/2 }'2 "PVC 7480'/1"PVC
3200'3/4 "PVC 2100"/1/2 "PVC 750' TOTAL - 25.805'=4.8 Miles of PVC Pipe
There are 75 Valves operating on 37 zones with 22 on one (1) clock and 15 on another clock.
The total numbers of park irrigation heads is 1442.
1. The maintenance challenge that we have faced for several years is the availability of re-
claim water from the city during the months of April to May and from November to
December.
The city has grown and expanded its reclaim water users to 1,700 residents and
200,000 gallons per day needed for public right away.
Because of limited rainfall during this time, we have experienced loss of re-claim water
totally and pressure dropage from 70 Psi to 40-50 Psi. The effects are dramatic on
The sports fields and make an unhealthy turf environment, the perfect target for dry
spots, fungus, stress related disease.
To solve this problem we began pumping water out of Lake Jesup, which is 10,000
acres in size. Our pump station was over 10 year's old and needed replacement. We
were able to purchase a Hoover Pump Station with 2-30 H.P. 3 Phase Centrifugal
Pump that has an 8" suction line and we can now pump 600 gallons per minute. This
provides the consistency of water that we needed. However, due to the shallowness
of the lake we are only able to locate the suction line at a depth of four feet. During
periods of drought, the line has been hit by night boaters even thought it is always
marked. Our staff must go out into the Alligator infested lake and repair the suction line.
Lake Jesup has Florida's highest population of Alligators at over 10,000. In fact, no other
lake in North America claims more gators per acre. You can say that this important job
function is going beyond the call of duty.
2. The hurricanes of 2004 hit hard in Winter Springs. Charley came first, with the eye of
the hurricane right over Central Winds Park. Charley featured sustained winds of 120
miles per hour and gusts ranging from 135 to 140 miles per hour. The scoreboards
came down and the light fixtures were damaged. The exteriors of the buildings
sustained significant damage. A brick wall came down in the dumpster area. Clay from
the ball fields washed onto walkways and into the turf. Hurricane winds keep changing
directions, that is what caused the greatest damage. Trees were twisted and pulled
completely from the ground. Armed with chain saws, every available department
member attacked the damage. They learned the meaning of hangers (a limb ready to
fall) and leaner's (a tree leaning a certain percentage from the root base). In addition,
they dealt with debris, branches, treetops, and entire trees pulled from the ground with
root masses of 14 feet and greater on top of the turf. Buildings were checked for
structural damage. Electrical power was out throughout the city. The concession stand
run by generators, became a food station for the masses of workers from the police and
fire departments, the parks and recreation staff, and the public.
"Public safety was our primary concern." Says Greene. "People sought Central Winds
Park as a place of refuge. With the massive damage and power out at their own
homes, our staff was on the job committed to opening community parks as a place to
respite in recreation. While other communities were using their athletic fields as open
space to pile debris, the City of Winter Springs opted to preserve that resource to serve
the community."
Then Hurricane Frances came and lingered. For two days, the force of this hurricane
pelted the city with winds and pounding rain. Hangers that had not yet been cleared
fell, learners toppled; trees undamaged by Charley were uprooted. Power, finally
restored, was gone again. The crews, still fighting the aftermath of the first storm,
attacked the debris even harder.
Unthinkable, but very real, Hurricane Jeanne came next. Once again, the winds and
rains attacked, Greene says. "With the already saturated conditions, this storm posed
threats of residential flooding. The City offered the location in front of our park as a site
for filling sandbags. The initial plan was to dump the sand, drop off the bags, and let
people fill what they needed. By 7:00 am, with the first 3000 bags dropped off and the
sand yet to appear, staff was already facing a lineup of cars and many concerned and
anxious people. We rallied the staff and, once the sand appeared, started filling bags for
organized pickup. Between 7:30 am and 6:00 pm, we'd handed out 12,000 sand bags."
Hurricane Ivan, though initially threatening, took an altered route, sparing the city. The
cleanup work continued. Tired, facing the damages and outages at home, the staff was
on the job. Plagued by heat and swarms of mosquitoes, they systematically tackled the
cleanup. Their first concern was removal of debris that might endanger park visitors.
They then moved additional debris away from public zones. This debris was stacked
and hauled away to a dedicated mulching site. In addition, they tackled the regular
workload and general operation to keep the park open and the fields in playable
conditions.
Greene focused on the mounds of paperwork, the precise tracking and reporting of
cleanup efforts necessary for the financial reimbursement to help offset the incredible
outlay of resources. With three separate hurricanes, the details as related to each must
be recorded down to the CPS position of the fallen trees, the record of precisely how
each cleanup worker's time was spent, the engine cc and horsepower as well as the
type of each piece of equipment used, what it was used for, and for what period, and
even the cubic yardage of the debris.
In the end, 82 trees were lost in Central Winds Park. That does not include the leaner or
the 203 trees with significant hangers. Just clearing the debris from the fields and other
grass areas throughout the parks so the turf could be mowed was a massive task with
3,586.45 cubic yards of trees and branches hauled out of the park.
Our incredible staff pulled together throughout it all. "It was through the commitment and
dedication that we were able to keep the park open and safe in spite of the humbling
experience of the forces of the storms. Central Winds Park is truly a place for the
community as a whole to come together.
Through the top-notch sports programs and events at Central Winds Park, the City of
Winter Springs is able to stay a close-knit community.
SPECIAL PROJECT COMPLETED IN THE LAST TWO YEARS
The largest special project was the grow-in of the Central Winds Park Expansion (27.65)
acres for practice sports fields (2 baseball, 2 softball, 2 soccer, 1 football, and 1 lacrosse).
What made the project unique was the use of a new variety of Seashore Paspalum Grass
(Sea Dwarf). The park staff had become familiar with maintaining a Football Field of Sea
Isle I at another park for the previous two years successfully. However, a 27-acre site that
had a sandy loam soil profile was a challenge. In addition, three hurricanes had hit the site
hard and put the project off schedule. During this process, the banks for the retention ponds
were washed out. The sod washed out and a layer of sand was on top of the sod. The sod
needed to be replaced after compaction of soil. 306 cubic yard fill dirt was needed to rebuild
the banks. We now had to grow in the sports fields in a 5-month window (March to July), so
they would be ready for play on August 1, 2005 for the Youth Football League.
We applied Fine Solar Salt, which came in 80lbs in the Lely 1,650 Lb. Fertilization Spreader
to eradicate weed. Three applications at 4-week intervals.
We tilled soil to a depth of 12 inches at twice-weekly intervals until soil was free of any
foreign materials.
We leveled the fields with a John Deere Tractor and the Spring Rake.
We brought in Harold's to take soil samples. The results showed that no soil amendments
were needed.
Environmental Turf Sprigged the grass at the rate we set at 600 bushel per acre.
The Sea Dwarf Seashore Paspalum was sprigged in 937,721 square feet.
We began irrigation immediately after the grass was "cut in". Frequent light watering was
done to keep the top two inches of the soil continually wet or moist. This was continued for
3 weeks. During the fourth week of watering was decrease as the grass developed.
We gradually lowered our mower to 1" over the next two months to the height that we were
going to maintain. We mowed one (1) time a week.
We put down weed control (Drive 75) for grassy weed control. Weed control was applied
approximately six (6) weeks after planting.
We put down Fine Solar Salt and Extra Course Crystals (Rock Salt) Solar Salt for continued
weed control as needed. It works great and we are one of the pioneers in sports fields that
use salt from for weed control in Sea Shore Paspalum.
All of our hard work paid off. The fields looked awesome for the 410 Youth Baseball,
Softball, Football, Cheerleading, Soccer, and Lacrosse Children Practicing on these fields
each day.
DIGITAL PHOTO LISTING
Fifteen (15) Photos Showing the overall beauty of Central Winds Park
1. Awesome picture of an adult baseball league fall game.
2. Perennial Rye (PHD 3 way blend) sure stripes nice on the softball fields.
3. We need more water over there to keep it green!
4. Aerial view of Sports Fields, Neighbors, and Lake Jesup shot February 1, 2006.
5. Prestige Red Poinsettia (Christmas Star) with an Alyssum (Maritimum) border makes a
great Winter Planting at the main park walkway.
6. Painted Lady Coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides) and Tonto Red Crepe Myrtles
(Lagerstroemia fauriei) add nice color to the park in the summer.
7. In Florida, you need to shade the playground because of the heat and sun.
8. It is like a visit into the country to go into the park passive area.
9. This is who we are and what we are proud of.
10. This is a Sea of Sea Dwarf Seashore Paspallum on the Park Expansion Sports Fields.
11. It was worth all the handwork to get with Expansion Fields grown in for the football kids.
12. Check out these life size Spagnum Moss Topiaries for the Athlete's Walk of Fame.
13. American Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) like to visit the park and check out the
people.
14. Two (2) of the 10,000 Alligator mississipiensis who like to sun next to our Pump Station.
15. At the end of the each day, no matter what the challenge are, we will overcome and
make it look great again.
Five (5) Photos showing the crew at work in Central Winds Park.
1. Hi, Ho, Hi, Ho, it is off to stripe I go. Chelsea loves to experiment with patterns on the
Perennial Rye.
2. Jackets in Florida? It is a Winter Baseball Game.
3. No one except the press box folks can see the top of the scorekeeper booths. Evans
cleans them.
4. Dried chewing gum looks bad and is hard for ED to peel off the concrete walkways.
5. Steve, the Irrigation Tech sure is brave to fix the Pump Station 8" suction line in the
Alligator Infested Lake Jesup.
Five (5) Photos showing challenges we face.
1. Look at all the hot spots from the re-claim water pressure drops.
2. The July 4 Celebration of Freedom crowd grows and grows and they love the grass.
However, what a mess later.
3. Who said it was ok to park 850 cars on the Expansion Practice Fields to see how tough
the Sea Dwarf Seashore Paspalum Grass is?
4. Are you sure this is Central Winds Park behind the Big Tree Pile? (Hurricane Debris).
5. Hurricane Francis brings lots of rainwater and is tough on scoreboards.
One (1) Photo of me as the person in charge
1. Yep, it is I. Alan Greene, Parks Superintendent.
Date: November 13, 2006
The attached was shown and the Seal presented
to the City Commission during the discussion of
Awards and Presentations Agenda Item "100",
at the November 13, 2006 City Commission
Regular Meeting.