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SOCCER FIELDS A “LEMON SITUATION”

BUT VICTORIA HOPES TO MAKE LEMONADE

It was a long conversation on August 23rd about the soccer fields in Victoria. The fields were previously usable, then became unusable during a project to improve them, and they remain unusable because the improvement project destroyed them. Options to correct the situation are expensive or not guaranteed.

Stated City Administrator Don Uram, “I encourage council to provide some direction to us to accomplish some results. The issue is lack of substantial turf growth. Improvement could be made to all of the fields out there.”

Public Works Director Ann Mahnke said the city is looking at several options and she identified three of them: 1) chemically improve the existing turf (not guaranteed success and “it doesn’t do anything about rocks in the soil or long term”), 2) remove the existing soil and bring in new soil at a cost of $78,000 (higher probability of success), 3) add a sand and peat mix to the existing soil and regrade (most expensive) for “premier fields.”

She introduced John Hopko, “a highly regarded turf specialist in the State of Minnesota,” to speak to councilmembers.

Asked about his background and qualifications, he said he spent three years at the University of Minnesota, graduated from Penn State in Turf Management, worked at country clubs, Northrup King, and as a traveling speaker on turf management. Since 1991 he’s been running his own company, Professional Turf Renovation.

“You kind of have a lemon situation,” he said to Victoria councilmembers, “and what you want to do is make lemonade.”

“The topsoil has rocks and clay and is poor,” he said. “I would hardly call it topsoil.” That “topsoil” was spread across Victoria’s soccer fields in the spring of 2009 and it came from the adjacent Ice Arena project. As the second sheet of ice was being constructed at the Victoria Field House (now called the Victoria Recreation Center), excess soil was moved to the soccer fields. Topsoil was to be placed on the fill and the fields regraded. Also, an irrigation system was installed and the fields were seeded and watered.

It was determined in the fall of 2009 that there are not 6 inches of topsoil, and there is also a high concentration of salt in the soil and minimal nutrients.

Mr. Hopko referred to the $78,000 bid received by School District 112 to reconstruct the fields. There is suggestion that the School District might not be reimbursed by the original grading contractor for this cost. The School Distrivct is a partner of the City of Victoria at the Victoria Recreation Center.

Said Mr. Hopko, “That’s $78,000 or more to excavate the topsoil, bring in another 6 inches, and you still don’t know what you’re going to get. What kind of soil are they going to bring in?”

“I’d like to speak to the sand/peat option,” he said. “Target Field is 85% sand and 15% peat. It drains at 12 inches per hour. You can literally play in the rain.”

He said the City of Victoria is not the only community that has experienced the problem they face. He mentioned fields in several communities that have gone to the sand/peat solution including Edina, St. Louis Park, Minnetonka, Eden Prairie, Bloomington, Mound Westonka, Orono.

“We can essentially build on top of what’s out there,” said Mr. Hopko. “We’d put drain tile in, cut in with a laser. Then three inches of sand, then the sand/peat mixture.”

“You already are considering spending $78,000. With the sand/peat option you’d never have to reschedule a game. And it’s the softest nicest surface to fall on. It’s beneficial to the community.”

He said the downside is that a good automatic irrigation system is needed because the fields require daily watering. “And you need an adequate fertility program. You generally need four to five fertilizations per year for a quality athletic field. The city would need to budget that in. Fertilization costs about $1,500 to $2,000 per field.” There are three fields at Diethelm Park.

In response to questions from Council he replied, “I’ve been promoting less and no phosphorous since my work at Northrup King, but you do need phosphorous on these fields. It’s absorbed in these sand/peat fields. The problem with phosphorous is the homeowners and grass clippings that create a lot of phosphorous in lakes.”

He said the fields could be ready for seeding this fall and playable next year. He said it’s a big advantage to keep every inch of surface and not build a crown surface, which currently exists. Drainage is by tile rather than runoff from the crown.

“You’re all blessed with clay soil out here that doesn’t drain,” said Mr. Hopko. “I’d encourage you to go look at the fields we’ve done.”

Councilmember Tom O’Connor asked about the cost for these premier fields.

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