POST-SHOW RECAP

Photo by John Kmitta

The 35th Annual Sports Field Management Association ( SFMA ) Conference and Exhibition was held at the Ocean Center convention center in Daytona Beach , Florida , January 22-25 , 2024 . It featured seven education tracks , a full trade show / exhibition , networking opportunities , keynote address , SAFE fundraisers , the SFMA Student Challenge , Seminar on Wheels and much more . Highlights from the 2024 SFMA Conference & Exhibition are as follows :

VOLUNTEER FIELD REBUILD Project EverGreen , members of SFMA and the Volusia County Schools teamed up on January 21 at Palm Terrace Elementary School in Daytona Beach to give the school ’ s long-dormant baseball field and grassy play area a $ 35,000 makeover .

The goal of the 100,000-square-foot field renovation project was to leave the school and

Photos by Mark Skalny , courtesy of SFMA .

community with a safe , well-maintained , and accessible ballfield and recreation space they can call their own .

“ A single group or individual cannot make these transformations a reality . Project EverGreen builds coalitions of businesses and individuals to make it happen ,” said Cindy Code , executive director of Project EverGreen . “ Schools with healthy and well-maintained athletic fields and recreation spaces improves the social fabric of a community by providing a place to safely compete , exercise and connect in an outdoor space .” The makeover included :

Layout of the new infield , which was changed from its current location at the bottom of the play area so home plate will now be closer to the school . This also eliminated water puddling on the field .

Layout and marking the locations of home plate , pitching rubber and bases at 60 feet .

Layout and removal of the grass areas around home plate ( 20-foot circle ), the pitching area ( 12-foot circle ) and each base ( 9-foot radius ).

Removing existing topsoil to a depth of approximately 3 ” from each area and storing it for future needs .

Installation of new baseball infield mix ( approximately 15 tons ), new home plate , 18 ” pitching rubber and a ‘ Break-away ’ base set , including anchors .

Aeration of all turf areas — approximately 100,000 sq . ft . to improve the overall health of the soil and grass .

18 SportsField Management | March 2024 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com