PARKS AND RECREATION
Photo courtesy of Byrom-Davey Inc .
their customers and ask things like how they handled the projects ; whether there were any changes or unforeseen conditions that caused a change in the final cost ; and , if so , how was that handled ?”
Sometimes , in the rush to have a project completed by the time the season for a certain sport opens , mistakes are made by not taking the time to select the right company for the job . As a result , it is possible to choose someone without the necessary experience in that sport .
According to Arcella , it is important to come to the table prepared with information , including : When fields , courts or other facilities need to be in use . Whether there is a preference in terms of the type of surface to be used . The sports each field / facility will host . What level of use the fields / facilities will receive ( i . e ., summertime Little League or larger and longerterm tournament use ).
What , if any , additional facilities or amenities are needed , such as spectator seating , restrooms , lighting , fencing , etc .
Builders recommend a team approach to designing and building ( or rebuilding ) athletic facilities . In addition to the builder , that team might include a designer of sports facilities , as well as subcontractors with expertise in areas such as electrical , lighting , etc . Also on board should be representatives of any applicable user group ( s ).
Contractors have long preferred creating lasting relationships with clients — not one-and-done jobs — and , as a result , have been working to forge partnerships with municipalities .
According to John Schedler of Baraka Sport in Fort Worth , Texas , the first and most essential ingredient in creating that beneficial relationship is free .
“ From concept to completion , communication is key to all projects ,” he said .
When a project has a group of advisers , including community users , it is essential that all voices are listened to ; however , only one person should be communicating with the contractor to avoid confusion or unapproved expenses .
“ Establish a point of contact with the owner and with the designer / contractor and have regular meetings to discuss progress and issues ,” said Schedler .
To keep community members in the loop , the point of contact should schedule regular meetings to give progress updates and to provide notifications on any significant changes to , or questions about , the project .
When it comes to new construction , parks and other municipalities are seeing an uptick in demand for specific types of facilities . Pickleball , of course , is growing exponentially , but so are other sports , including disc golf and half-court basketball . Dog parks are also proliferating in parks nationwide — often with different sections for small and large canines , and with amenities such as water fountains and agility courses .
“ We ’ re seeing a major uptick in South Florida in small-sided soccer facilities ,” said Arcella . “ We actually replaced a skate park , an outdoor inline hockey rink and an unused baseball field , and converted all of them to small-sided soccer . With Lionel Messi now playing for Inter Miami , and the 2026 World Cup being played here , we think that trend will continue .” SFM
Mary Helen Sprecher wrote this article on behalf of the American Sports Builders Association ( ASBA ). ASBA offers a wealth of resources to assist parks and recreation personnel , including publications such as “ Sports Fields : A Construction and Maintenance Manual ,” “ Pickleball Courts : Construction & Maintenance Manual ,” “ Running Tracks : A Construction and Maintenance Manual ,” “ Tennis Courts : Construction & Maintenance Manual ,” and “ Courts & Recreational Surfaces : Construction and Maintenance Manual .” To learn more , visit sportsbuilders . org , and from the blue toolbar at the top of the page , mouse over to “ Resources .” A drop-down menu will include an option for publications . sportsfieldmanagementonline . com December 2023 | SportsField Management
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