After a months-long review process, the City finalized its Integrated Turf Health Management Program in the summer of 2022. This program has been designed to take a flexible, site-specific approach to maintaining the turfgrass on our sports fields to reduce the risk of injury and exposure to treatment materials while improving playability.
This webpage serves as the repository for turf management updates as they occur. The Parks & Recreation Department will also place signage at sports fields in advance of any treatments that include the use of pesticides. These signs will remain in place until the field has been treated and can be used again. These signs will feature a QR that points directly to this webpage, so that residents can learn more about any treatments that have been planned.
Spring 2024 Update
The following management practices have been scheduled for sports fields:
Fertilizer Applications:
- Mid March
- Mid May
- Early August
- Mid October
Performed in-house, this process entails the application of macro and micro-nutrient formulas, based on soil needs. Fertilizer application is scheduled for all sports fields. Small pellets may be visible in the grass following each application.
Foliar Applications:
- Early May
- Early June
- Early July
- Early August
Performed in-house, this process entails the application of macro and micro-nutrient formulas as well as organic materials such as kelp, humic acid, and carbon, based on soil needs. Foliar applications are applied using a liquid spray. While these foliar applications DO NOT contain pesticides, their specimen labels do contain warning and caution signal words. There are no reentry restrictions listed on the label however, precaution signage will be posted and program use will be delayed until product is dry.
Cultivation: Performed in-house, cultivation practices include seeding, aerating, and soil fracturing. You may see small soil “plugs” or holes in the soil following use of the aerator, or you may see small rows of holes following reseeding or solid tine aeration. Some of our seed maybe coated in a starter fertilizer or moisture aid which gives the seeds a blue or green color.
Pesticide Application: Based on the objective field assessment formula outlined by the Integrated Turf Management Policy, no fields have been identified or scheduled for application. Assessments are performed on a monthly basis. This page will be updated with changes should conditions or schedule change.
Northam West Fields
The baseball and turf athletic fields west of the center path at Northam Park underwent an extensive renovation in 2023 including the addition of drainage, irrigation, and soil amendments. These fields will remain closed throughout the year, except for spring t-ball. The 2024 season will be all about establishment and growth. We are currently developing a plan specifically tailored to these fields.
Signs will be placed at each location and will include information about the date/time of pesticide application and when each field will be reopened for use. These signs will also include a QR code that points your smartphone to this webpage.
Fungicide Application: Starting in early June and repeating every 4 weeks for 3 cycles
Northam West athletic fields are irrigated and more prone to fungus and disease. Because the new turf in these fields is still in the establishment phase, we will applying preventative fungicides. Signs will be placed at each location and will include information about the date/time of pesticide application and when each field will be reopened for use. These signs will also include a QR code that points your smartphone to this webpage.
Herbicide Application: Scheduled for Mid-July
While the west athletic fields at Northam Park are getting established, we will be performing an application to help clean up some of the weeds like crabgrass, sedge, and clover that are competing with our desired turf species. This application will include multiple products in order to maximize the weeds treated while minimizing applications.
About the Pesticide Being Used
Fingicides: Title Phythe and Azoxy 2SC
Per the three signal words graphic, these pesticides are rated “Caution” and “Warning” with low to moderate toxicity.
- Title Pythe
- Azoxy 2SC
Herbicides: Quali-Pro Quinclorac 75DF, T-Zone SE, Quali-Pro Sedgemaster
Per the three signal words graphic, these pesticides are rated “Caution” and “Warning” with low to moderate toxicity.
- Quali-Pro Quinclorac 75DF
- T-Zone SE
- Quali-Pro Sedgemaster
ABOUT THE INTEGRATED TURF HEALTH MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
The backbone of the Integrated Turf Health Management Program is a field-specific approach, based on frequent assessments. A knowledgeable and trained member of Staff will spend approximately four-eight hours every three-four weeks going through an objective, comprehensive and systematic checklist for measurable items that affect a field’s safety and playability. This assessment will generate an overall rating score. The score would govern the maintenance level followed and which of the available tools – some combination of cultural practices (such as reseeding and aeration) and pest management – should be prescribed and used for the management of each field.
Staff has developed a prioritization process for implementation of the Integrated Turf Management Program,based on available staff time and financial resources. Thus, some fields that qualify for a more intensive level of treatment may receive less treatment due to overall priorities with athletic field maintenance. The Integrated Turf Health Management Program is limited to athletic fields only, with a minimal buffer area. Any treatments undertaken as part of this management program would not be applied to surrounding park grounds.
Upper Arlington has long enjoyed a vibrant youth sports program, thanks to the volunteer efforts of several community members who serve as administrators and coaches. Over time, the high use of the City’s athletic fields for both programmed and informal sports, general park user activities and community events has resulted in turf conditions that hinder the safety and playability of playing surfaces.
During the 2018 Parks & Recreation Comprehensive Plan process, it was determined that the conditions of parks in general, and athletic fields specifically, were below acceptable standards, and as part of an extensive community input process, residents prioritized improvements to athletic fields.
Since then, the City has implemented improvements to its athletic fields in a number of ways that have included:
- Creation of a Parks & Forestry (Turf) Specialist position
- The prioritization of capital improvements for athletic fields
- Enhanced protocols within the existing turf maintenance plan
- Creation of a Field Use Policy designed to maximize field use in a sustainable manner
While these steps resulted in some improvements, the Parks & Recreation Department determined that a more extensive maintenance program was necessary to make lasting change. To that end, Staff conducted extensive research on potential maintenance approaches and tools for providing consistent quality fields. This process included industry and peer-community best practices, community engagement, and discussion with the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board.
The use of an Integrated Turf Health Management Program was identified as a viable, approach that is site specific and tailored to each location’s needs, using the least impactful materials necessary to accomplish maintenance goals, with a focus on the overall turfgrass system, including plants, soils and beneficial organisms, to reduce the risk of injury and exposure to treatment materials while improving playability.
ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS
To view documents associated with the project: