Gwinnett commissioners recently awarded a construction contract for $835,000 to install an artificial turf multi-purpose field at Duncan Creek Park in northeast Gwinnett County. The project includes renovating the existing multi-purpose field and warm-up area (approximately 140,000 square feet) with the installation of artificial turf, including permanent striping for football and soccer, with corners for lacrosse.
Following the lead of a number of Atlanta area schools and parks that have converted sports fields to artificial turf, the County will save on annual field maintenance costs and provide an opportunity for these fields to be used year-round. Natural turf fields maintained by Gwinnett County typically require closure for full or partial re-sodding every summer due to the high use of the fields.
“With our current budget concerns, initiating this pilot program to convert two multi-purpose fields to artificial turf makes good economic sense,” said District 4 Commissioner Kevin Kenerly. “This will allow Gwinnett County time to evaluate the cost and playability of the new fields and consider extending the program to other parks.”
In addition to savings, new technologies provide for a much safer playing surface. Synthetic (artificial) turf fields are made of polyethylene fibers simulating grass stabilized with rubber pellets for cushioning. Underground drainage systems also increase the playability of fields after heavy rains.
The general contractor for the Duncan Creek Park project is East Tennessee Turf and Landscape and the turf supplier/installer is Deluxe Athletics of Marietta. Construction will begin in April with completion by mid-July. The multi-purpose field is one of two targeted in the County as a pilot project that was included in the 2010 Parks and Recreation Capital Budget funded by the 2005 SPLOST. Cemetery Field in Norcross will be the second field to get artificial sod.
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