Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
grassy courts are very appreciated and can still be found at tropical
resorts.
Like those of bowling-greens and croquet-grounds, tennis court sur-
faces must be flat and relatively hard. Because slope should not exceed
0.5%, surface drainage is usually modest, and subsurface drainage is
frequently required. Most tennis courts are constructed from fine sand
and sodded with cynodon. Other species are seldom used because they
grow too slowly or cannot tolerate the damage from intense foot traffic
and ball bouncing. Mowing height is usually kept at 6-8 mm, and little
thatch is allowed. The surface must be hard, but not nearly as hard as on
bowling-greens or croquet-grounds, so water is only slightly restricted.
The rate of nitrogen fertilization is relatively high, but much lower than
that on football or rugby fields. Core aerification may be needed every
3 months and should be followed by top-dressing. Tennis facilities
usually include a number of individual courts adjacent to each other. If
courts are under extensive use, some of the individual courts should be
placed off-limits for several days, in rotation, so that turf can recover and
cultivation measures such as aerification, vertical mowing, top-dressing,
etc. can be conducted. On extensively damaged areas, sodding rather
than any other turf propagation method, should be used to repair bare
spots.
Playgrounds
Playgrounds are probably the most common sport/recreational facilities
in the world (Fig. 10.8). They support a very broad range of play activities
rather than a single sport. Stress imposed on the playground surface by
traffic can be severe and frequently exceeds that imposed on football or
rugby fields. Areas under swings and around slides and similar equip-
ment are not only heavily compacted, but also frequently worn beyond
the ability to maintain turf at all. Areas like these should be paved with
some other material such as wood chips, rubber chips or sand rather than
turf. Quick, effective drainage is of the greatest importance in maintain-
ing playground facilities. Slightly sloped elevated areas with rapidly
draining soils are the most suitable. The essential criteria for the turf
species chosen are durability, density and safety. Turf playing surfaces
must provide a soft and effective barrier separating the feet of play-
ground users from the soil beneath. Children have a tendency to play
just minutes after rainfall, so if drainage is insufficient and density
inadequate, the children soil their clothes and shoes and track mud into
houses, kindergartens or schools, distressing their parents or teachers.
Turf-grass species selection is less critical, but turf must be dense and
some thatch is desirable. Zoysia grass is an excellent choice for all types of
