Town of Littleton Littleton Fields Master Plan September 25, 2017 Gale Associates, Inc. John M. Perry, P.E. Jeffrey F. Georges, MRLA
About Gale Agenda Introduction and Purpose Background Investigation and Facilities Assessments Typical Results Field Use Demand - User Organizations Field Use Evaluation Equivalent Demand Field Demand Conclusions Field Use Redistributed Total Equivalent Demand Results of Field Planning and Redistribution Construction Phasing Maintenance Cost Summarys Estimating Employees For Field Maintenance Overall Conclusions
About Gale Professional Engineers, Architects and Landscape Architects Founded in 1964, Privately Owned Athletic and Recreation Design Services include: Natural grass fields Synthetic turf fields Running tracks Tennis courts Master Plans
Introduction and Purpose Evaluate the physical condition of each athletic field venue Quantify Demand Use vs Capacity at each athletic field venue Evaluate and Program The Town Requirements For Upgraded or New Facilities Provide Master Planning Services and Renovation Strategies To Meet the Needs of The Community Assist Town In The Programing and Planning of The Operational, Maintenance and Capital Improvement Needs of the Existing and Proposed Facilities Assist With Phasing Strategy
Background Investigation and Facilities Assessment Town Field Locations 1. High School Fields 2. Middle School Fields 3. Whitcomb Field 4. Shaker Lane Fields 5. Alumni Field 6. Shattuck Field 7. Koerper Field 8. Track Field 9. Cricket Lane 10. Morgan Property 11.Land Behind Track 12.Land Entrance to HS
Background Investigation and Facilities Assessment Town Site High School High School Field #4 Rating Sheet
Typical Results On average, the fields were rated FAIR To POOR Condition With Ratings Between 2.4 and 4.0: 4=Excellent, 1=Poor
Existing Town Fields Recommended for Renovations Whitcomb Fields Are Over Used and In Fair Condition Score: 2.4 General Issues: Field Lawn Thin, Many Worn Patches, Weedy, Overused, Needs Rest & Renovation ADA Non-Compliant Perimeter Fence Rusted No Formal Walkways No Spectator Seating
Existing Town Fields Recommended for Renovations The High School Fields Are Over Used and In Fair Condition Field 1 Score: 2.7 Field 2 Score: 2.7 Field 3 Score: 2.5 Field 4 Score: 2.5 General Issues: ADA Non-Compliant Drainage Issues on Field #3 & Field #4 Wet Field Turf Worn, Needs Repair Inadequate Fencing Dugouts Needs Renovation Bullpen Weeding, Netting in Disrepair
Existing Town Fields Recommended for Renovations Shaker Lane Fields Are Over Used and In Fair Condition Field 1 Score: 2.2 Field 2 Score: 2.6 Field 3 Score: 2.7 Field No. 3 Field No.2 Field No.1 General Issues: ADA Non-Compliant Poor Drainage Issues No Walkways Fields Worn & Weedy No Spectator Seating Lacks Support Equipment Fencing Old, Rusted, Damaged
Existing Town Fields Recommended for Renovations The Middle School Field Is Minimally Equipped Score: 3.0 General Issues: Irrigation System Storage Facility ADA Compliancy Additional Fencing
Existing Town Fields Recommended for Renovations The Koerper Field Lacks Only In Field Facilities Score: 3.5 General Issues: Additional Parking Team and Spectator Seating ADA Accessibility Sidewalks and Walkways
Existing Town Fields Recommended for Renovations Shattuck Field Is Poorly Accessible and Needs Facility Upgrades Score: 2.6 General Issues: Team Seating ADA Compliancy Irrigation Field Grading Grass Replacement Paved Walkways Additional Spectator Seating
Current Use Demand Littleton User Demand Statistics MATRIX LEGEND: Field Uses Under 250/Year Field Uses Between 250-300/Year Field Uses Over 300/Year
Equivalent Demand Littleton User Demand Statistics MATRIX LEGEND: Field Uses Under 250/Year Field Uses Between 250-300/Year Field Uses Over 300/Year
Redistributed Use Demand Redistributed Use Statistics MATRIX LEGEND: Field Uses Under 250/Year Field Uses Between 250-300/Year Field Uses Over 300/Year
Field Demand Conclusions Most Use: April - May, Sept - Oct (120 days) 3,174 Scheduled Events Per Year 3 Fields Over 250 Uses (overburdened), 5 Fields Between 200 250 Uses A Well Maintained Natural Turf field Can Support Approximately 250 Equivalent Uses Per Year Synthetic Turf Capable of 700+ Events Depending On Schedule The Current Actual Uses Are Misleading. They Only Reflect What Is Currently Occurring. Additional Field Uses Would Be Scheduled If Space and Schedule Allowed, Especially Baseball and Softball. The Athletic Fields Are Not Afforded The Consistent and Appropriate Rest Period Needed Due To Their Full Use Schedule During The Year.
Shaker Lane School Fields Development Options Four (4) Newly Constructed Baseball Fields Option For Different Size Fields Accessible Parking Field Accessible Walkways and Ramps Restroom and Concession Facilities Paved Central Gathering Court Field Viewing and Sitting Areas Retaining Walls Team Dugouts
The Morgan Property Development Options Multi Use Recreational Facility Three (3) Baseball Fields Different Sizes for Different Age Group Venues Two (2) MPR Fields To Accommodate Different Venues Multi Age Playground FitCorp Outdoor Exercise Stations Recreation Center with Restrooms, Small Office and Special Function Areas Outdoor Water Recreation Area Walking Trails Connecting to Town Trails Wetland Catwalk with Sitting Areas and Interest Markers Open Air Shelter For Inclement Weather Parking For 112 Cars
The Morgan Property Development Options
The Cricket Lane Property Development Options Two (2) MPR Fields One (1) Multi Age Playground Shaded Sitting and Field Viewing Areas Two (2) FitCorp Outdoor Exercise Stations A Water Recreational Area Perimeter Walking / Jogging Trail Colorful Residential Screen Plantings An Open Air Shelter for Inclement Weather Open Lawn Areas for Passive Recreation Parking Area For 60 Cars Designed For Special Events, ie. Touch-A-Truck
Couper Farm Development One (1) MPR Field Parking Area For 52 Cars Development Options
Cost Estimates
Cost Estimates
Cost Estimates
Construction Phasing Alumni / Jet Fields Phase 1 - Completed
Phase 2 Shaker Lane Fields - $4,885,200 ± OR Morgan Property $6,677,820 ± Construction Phasing The Morgan Property Shaker Lane Fields
Construction Phasing Phase 3 - $1,850,580 ± Renovate and Deconflict Playing Fields Upgrade to include Team Dugouts Install ADA Accessible Sidewalks to the Fields Whitcomb Fields
Construction Phasing Phase 4 - $959,100 ± Renovations to Dugouts, Benches, Fencing, Field Regrading, Topdress and Seeding Worn Playing Areas, Regrade Wet Areas Replace Goal Equipment, Additional Fencing, Worn Playing Surfaces Upgrade ADA Accessibility, Paved Walkways and Spectator Seating Littleton High School
Construction Phasing Phase 5 - $966,000 ± Renovations to team seating, backstops, facility structures and selected playing surfaces Upgrades to field equipment, ADA Accessibility, Spectator Seating, Paved Walkways Shaker Lane School Fields
Construction Phasing Phase 6 - $2,994,600 ± Construction of Cricket Lane Fields and Amenities Cricket Lane Fields
Construction Phasing Phase 7 - $386,400 ± Renovate Team and Spectator Seating, Field Grading and Worn Grass Replacement Upgrade ADA Compliancy, Paved Walkways, Additional Pedestrian Seating and Site Irrigation Shattuck Street Field
Maintenance Budget Summary The First Step in developing a maintenance budget is to assemble a comprehensive Task List of events that summarizes the activities that are routinely accomplished in the maintenance of high quality athletic fields. The following list applies. EQUIP. MAINT., INVENTY, TRAIN.- E INSPECTION, SOIL SAMPLING - I MOWING, STRIPING, TRASH, (BASEBALL) - MB MOWING, STRIPING, TRASH, (RECTANGULAR) - MR SYNTHETIC TURF FIELD MAINTENANCE - MST AERATE AND DRAG - A IRRIGATION - IR TOPDRESS AND DRAG - TD OVERSEED AND DRAG - OV LIGHTING - LG FERTILIZE - F PESTICIDE / WEED TREATMENT - PW LIME Ph ADJUSTMENT - L SPRING CLEAN UP, IRRIGAT. SERV. - S WINTERIZE IRRIG. / FALL CLEAN-UP- W BUILDING MAINTENANCE - BM PLAYGROUND MAINTENANCE - G OPEN SPACE MAINTENANCE - OM TRAIL MAINTENANCE - TM TRASH PICKUP - PU TREE PRUNING / MAINTENANCE - TW
Maintenance Budget Summary The Task Items are then applied to a calendar matrix
Maintenance Budget Summary The Maintenance Tasks or Events are each given a cost value determined through trade experience and best management practices. The cost values incorporate labor, equipment and materials for that particular event.
Maintenance Budget Summary for Current Fields The Maintenance Events are then tallied for the year and totaled in the MAINTENANCE COST SUMMARY. The SUMMARY is the basis from which we derive the yearly budget. EQUIP. MAINT., INVENTY, TRAIN.- E INSPECTION, SOIL SAMPLING - I MOWING, STRIPING, TRASH, (BASEBALL) - MB MOWING, STRIPING, TRASH, (RECTANGULAR) - MR SYNTHETIC TURF FIELD MAINTENANCE - MST AERATE AND DRAG - A IRRIGATION - IR TOPDRESS AND DRAG - TD OVERSEED AND DRAG - OV LIGHTING - LG FERTILIZE - F PESTICIDE / WEED TREATMENT - PW LIME Ph ADJUSTMENT - L SPRING CLEAN UP, IRRIGAT. SERV. - S WINTERIZE IRRIG. / FALL CLEAN-UP- W BUILDING MAINTENANCE - BM PLAYGROUND MAINTENANCE - G OPEN SPACE MAINTENANCE - OM TRAIL MAINTENANCE - TM TRASH PICKUP - PU TREE PRUNING / MAINTENANCE - TW
Maintenance Budget Summary Maintenance Staffing is also tracked on the Matrix as each Maintenance Task has a personnel component as a labor value. This labor value is divided between Supervisor and Worker and is totaled for each event. The number of events vary throughout the year depending on the amount of activity required by the number and size of the fields. AND... The yearly amount of personnel hours required for all of the maintenance tasks are totaled on the Matrix in the TOTAL PERSONNEL HOURS.
Estimating Employees For Current Field Maintenance Tasks Included: Soil Sampling, Spring Inspection Spring Cleanup Weed and Pest Control Fertilizer Spreading Cutting Grass/ Rake out Infield Maintenance of Synthetic Turf Fields Aeration Top Dressing Overseeding Irrigation Fall Clean Up Lime Application Off season Maintenance
Typical Synthetic Turf Maintenance Budget Summary Synthetic Turf Fields: In-House Budget Two (2) Men, one (1) Machine for four (4) hours/event, two (2) events/year. $1,600.00 Synthetic Turf Fields: Contract Budget Inspection Of Infill Depth Inspection Of Field Seems Inspection Of Fiber Integrity Inspection Of High Traffic Areas The Field Is Groomed Foreign Objects Are Removed The Field Is Swept A Maintenance Report Is Provided Total Cost Of Maintenance Package, Single Visit $1,850.00 Total Cost Of Maintenance Package, Full Year $3,700.00
Inclement Weather Policy It only takes playing once on a very wet field to destroy the turf root zone for that season. An effort must be made not to play games or even practice on fields that are excessively wet. Because of the Towns sustained heavy use of the fields, an Inclement Weather Policy (IWP) is strongly recommended as a management tool for preventing damage to the fields. The enforcement of a restrictive IWP by field managers is the single best management practice available. It protects the safety of the players, the condition of the fields and serviceability of the facilities. An effective procedure in policing the use of the fields might be the implementation of a yearly field deposit collected from every group intending to use the fields. If a group is found using closed fields, the permit holder may be charged for the cost to repair the field against that field security deposit paid by the group at the beginning of the year
Overall Conclusions The Master Plan identifies inventory constraints, community needs and planning programs to meet the recreational needs of the community. Two (2) fields are currently overused (greater than 250 uses per year, not including Alumni). Additional field uses would be scheduled if space and schedule allowed, especially baseball and softball. The planned schedule for Alumni Field (1,104 uses) may result in premature wear on the field. Additional field space may be warranted. Many of the existing athletic fields have deficiencies in similar areas, i.e., too little rest periods essential to turf growth and establishment, field areas devoid of turf, drainage issues, a lack of site amenities, and a lack of ADA accessibilities. Expansion of maintenance staff and budget will be vital to maintain both the existing and proposed facilities.
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