Bullpen Mound Build

For whatever reason, our 2 largest ball diamonds were built with permanent pitching mounds on the field but not in the bullpens.  This past season we used portable pitching mounds in the bullpens for the kids to use but I never was a fan.  We decided to build permanent mounds in those bullpens during the off season and finished one today in the beautiful 55 degree sunny weather!  These are full sized pitching mounds were the rubber has a 60' 6" distance from the plate and is 10" above the plate as well.  I caught up with the crew on the tail-end of the build, here are some photos.

Adding clay bricks to the table-top and slope

Additional bricks added in landing zone and filling in around bricks with DuraPitch Mound clay.

Tamping clay

Using Mar-Mound Clay to top it off.  Also checking slope.
1" for every foot is the proper slope of a pitching mound.  

Finished mound without conditioner.  We will actually use crushed brick to match what is already in the  bullpens.  

2012 Fall Events and Maintenance

Greetings!  Its been some time since my last update.  Once we opened back in July, we stayed extremely busy.  We had an event just about every weekend from July until now!  Overall I would say it was a successful year.  Thanks to our staff for their hard work and a special thanks to all the visitors and participants this year.  I just wanted to share a few photos from this fall... 

Aerification is an important cultural practice in turf management.  Ideally you will want to aerify a few times a year when your turf is actively growing.  For cool-season turf, fall is a great time to aerify.  Aerification helps alleviate compaction, improves soil aeration, improves water infiltration, and helps with controlling thatch buildup.  We have aerified 3 times already this fall.  

9-26-2012
Frost damage on bermudagrass.  This is the beginning stages of the  warm season turf going into winter dormancy.

9-28-2012

10-5-2012

10-5-12

10-5-12

11-3-2012
Kentucky Youth Soccer Commonwealth Cup - early morning start

 

12-1-2012
Football University Middle School Tournament

I would like to do a better job keeping the blog updated this coming year. Now that construction is complete.  I have been kicking around the idea of renaming the blog to something maintenance related and post about maintenance practices and issues we come across.  What do you all think?

August Aerials

This is most likely the last of the series of aerial photos from the construction phase of the park.  Its been a tough past few months with weather but I think we've fared well.  Thanks to my staff for all their hard work to get us through those hot, dry days and recently the heavy rains we've had.  Also, a big thanks to everyone who have supported the project from day 1 and your continued support.  I will see you all at the Sports Park!

Lets look back to October 2010, 4 months into construction, for our first set of aerials...

Now Open!

Hello, it has been a while since my last post.  That is because we have been so busy preparing the Sports Park for opening!  Here are some photos from our first few events:

Brandon Deaderick (New England Patriots) Elite Skills Football Camp - July 14th 

Brandon Deaderick (New England Patriots) Elite Skills Football Camp - July 14th  

Community Opening Day, July 21st
"Kids Run the Bases"

Community Opening Day, July 21st

Community Opening Day, July 21st
Zooperstars!

My parents dog, Jessie, assisted me with some irrigation work

Cal Ripken Baseball Ohio Valley Regional, July 26-29
11&12 yr old 50/70

Cal Ripken Baseball Ohio Valley Regional, July 26-29
11&12 yr old 50/70

Cal Ripken Baseball Ohio Valley Regional, July 26-29
11&12 yr old 50/70

Cal Ripken Baseball Ohio Valley Regional, July 26-29
Groundscrew making it happen

Cal Ripken Baseball Ohio Valley Regional, July 26-29

Cal Ripken Baseball Ohio Valley Regional, July 26-29
8:30 am start after 1.3" rain overnight

Happy Summer!

Remember hearing "Opening Summer 2012"?  Well here we are, today is the summer solstice, it is officially upon us.  With almost a month to go before our opening event we are continuing putting on the finishing touches.  Here are some recent aerial photos of the park.  

Ball Diamonds & Miracle Field

Championship Fields

Miracle Field close-up

Synthetic turf maintenance training session from The Motz Group, our  installer.

ESP at night! Photo taken by our brave City Engineer, Scott Reynolds

Adding additional infield mix to button up ball diamonds.  Thanks to J&D Turf !

Testing surface hardness on the synthetic turf Championship Fields. Courtesy of  Dr. Charlie Mancino, Turfgrass Agronomist

June is here, closer everyday!

Testing lights

Miracle Field surface

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