Board of Trustees approves renovations of Stuart Field, turfing to begin this month. Groundbreaking on Stuart Field is scheduled to begin in early April, according to Mark Hoying, University of Dayton assistant director for intramurals and sport clubs.
The Board of Trustees passed plans for the project earlier in March, said Teri Rizvi, associate vice president for communications.
The field, located between Virginia W. Kettering Hall and the RecPlex, will be equipped with Twenty Four Seven® brand synthetic turf. The Motz Group, a Cincinnati-based firm, will oversee the turf installation.
"Friday nights, next fall, we're playing lacrosse, we're playing soccer, we're playing rugby out on that field," Hoying said.
The new field will feature permanent lines for four recreation league soccer and flag football fields, along with two softball fields, Hoying said. Temporary lines will be placed for ultimate Frisbee, club soccer, recreation, and club field hockey and rugby.
"If you wanted to come out and play intramural football or a rec pick-up game with [the] people on your floor, the lines are down," Hoying said. "It eliminates the 'Hey, pile up your sweatshirt over there and pile your shoes over there, and we'll have a field.'"
Hoying said expected lifespan of the field is about 10 years, depending on frequency of use and environmental factors such as damage from the sun. The field will be surrounded by an asphalt walkway and fence, and a portion of the land will remain undeveloped for a "phase two" project, which could possibly include bathrooms.
In Nov. 2010, Flyer News reported that Campus Recreation records show approximately 2,600 students each year play nearly 1,500 intramural games each semester in Campus Recreation's outdoor programming.
Zach Burns, sales and marketing director for The Motz Group, said the company is thrilled to be working with the university on the project. He said the project will probably be the single largest installation for the company this year in terms of square footage.
Burns said the Motz Group has partnered with the university on other projects, including Baujan Field. The company also worked on the field at Welcome Stadium, home of the Dayton Flyers football program, according to Burns.
Hoying said he expects to see an increase in the number of students playing intramural sports on the new field, much like when numbers of students utilizing indoor campus recreation activities increased with the opening of the RecPlex.
According to Hoying, Campus Recreation plans to be able to schedule about 28 games a day on the field, but said the number could run higher for club sports tournaments.
The field is expected to be finished by the beginning of the 2011-2012 academic year, he said.
"We've told them it's got to be done when [students] come back," Hoying said. "I think everyone's hope is you don't see a bulldozer, a carpet machine, we're not putting lines in; it's there, it's shiny, it's done, it's 'Welcome to UD.'"
Original article from University of Dayton’s Student Newspaper – www.flyernews.com Article written by staff writer, Will Garbe.
Emerging Recreation Market
It’s becoming increasingly apparent that recreation facilities are noticing the value of installing synthetic turf. Blue Ash Recreation Center, Anderson Township Park District’s Riverside Park, Wyoming Recreation Center are just a few of the many recreation / multi use fields that The Motz Group has recently installed. “Our new All Weather Field facility at Riverside Park has enabled the ATPD to continue our mission of providing quality fields for our residents” says Ken Kushner, executive director of Anderson Township Park District. Among other assets, synthetic turf allows recreation facilities to maximize rental dollars since weather related field conditions are no longer a factor.
24/7®
Twenty-Four/Seven® is the most popular and durable, all-weather, all-purpose turf system that The Motz Group installs. Made with the highest quality slit film yarn available, 24/7 delivers a winning combination of affordability and superior wear-ability. You won’t find a better multi-use synthetic sports field turf system than 24/7, or a better team to deliver it than The Motz Group.
The Motz Group
The Motz Group designs and installs world-class, high performance synthetic and natural sports field systems. They provide quality products and personal service, backed by a 34-year history of building trust.
