Synthetic Turf Fields Are Green, But How Green?

Synthetic turf fields have seen an uptick in popularity across Minnesota in the last several years, partially due to the newest generation of turf consisting of long fiber carpet with rubber infill, which came on the market in the late 90s. Schools and cities have seen the benefit in pairing synthetic turf fields with natural turf fields to keep up with the high demand of use, varying weather conditions, and decreasing availability of land dedicated to playfields. Synthetic turf can support almost indefinite use without being impacted by the elements. A new synthetic turf field can cause sticker shock for some, but after the cost-per-player-per-hour benefits combined with the ever-evolving sustainability practices, benefits compared to the natural grass cost, will outweigh initial costs.

Synthetic turf fields can ease the brunt of natural resource usage through conserving water, eliminating fertilizer usage, and using recycled infill materials. However, they have a burden to bear in recycling and limiting waste associated with building and operating the fields. Sustainable practices are becoming more of a requirement and less of a perk in many aspects of daily life, whether socially, economically, or environmentally. The turf industry is no different, keeping up with sustainable design, construction, maintenance, and replacement is more crucial than ever before.

Microplastics Containment

Microplastics defines small material, less than 5 millimeters, which results from the disposal or breakdown of products and waste. Over the years, the term has most commonly been used in the cosmetics industry. Microbeads wash off and enter the sewage system, passing through treatment, such as clarifiers and filtration systems, potentially causing problems to downstream water supplies. Microplastics in the synthetic turf industry cause concern due to the loss and migration of turf fibers and infill that may affect waterways and aquatic- and land-based environments over time. This topic of issue has been gaining momentum in Europe in recent years and is now becoming part of the conversation in the western hemisphere.

Through conscientious design, construction, and maintenance practices, microplastic migration in turf fields can be minimized through:

• Use of proper turf fibers that reduce the amount of infill splash, therefore containing the migration of infill during use, as well as in wet weather or snow plowing.

• Specify UV stabilization and durability of turf fibers that would otherwise breakdown through premature aging.

• Use of shock padding under the carpet to add resiliency and reduce the need for deeper infill material.

• Use of organic infill as an alternate to recycled tires (SBR), such as cork, coconut, walnut husks, or recycled wood.

• Implement proper drainage, such as subsurface drainage where possible, impermeable layering to block water and infill from penetrating the subsurface, and provide filters at drain inlets to capture any migrating infill.

• Introduce cleat and shoe cleaners at exit gates to capture infill material.

• Implement proper maintenance practices and clean grooming equipment prior to leaving the field.

Recycling and Repurposing

Environmental benefits of synthetic turf fields range from repurposing millions of discarded tires for raw building materials, eliminating millions of pounds of fertilizer, and reducing water usage for irrigation by trillions of gallons annually. However, the turf industry has realized the need to move in a direction to creatively recycle and repurpose the ever-increasing number of new and aging turf fields. A typical soccer field is over two acres in size, which has the potential to generate hundreds of tons of waste in carpet and infill materials. Add to that, the amount of jobsite waste, such as turf scraps, wood pallets, plastic wrapping, etc. The need to control the amount of material that is directed to landfills is critical.

Innovative and exciting efforts to control waste in the synthetic turf arena include:

• Use of harvesting equipment to allow 80 percent of infill materials to be reclaimed for reuse.

• Repurposing recycled yarn and polyurethane backing to create recycled timbers for landscape edging and turf nailer boards, extruded composite pellets for a greener infill option, and recycled plastic for underlayment and shock pad materials.

• Use of patent pending processes that install a new field on top of the existing surface, instead of removing and disposing of an aged field.

Sustainability in Synthetic Turf

Synthetic turf fields provide many benefits over natural grass fields for a variety of reasons, nevertheless there is always a need for improvement when it comes to conserving and protecting our ecosystems. Through methodical and conscientious design, construction, and maintenance practices, we can limit microplastic migration into our environments, while also taking the opportunity to recycle materials that would otherwise take up space in landfills. Sustainability in synthetic turf fields is not only a trend, but a need.

Jay Pomeroy, PLA

Principal Landscape Architect

Jay.Pomeroy@bolton-menk.com

Infrastructure from the Past Drives a Community’s Future

By Tyler McLeete, PE , Stantec – North Loop Preservation

Just west of downtown Minneapolis lies the historic North Loop District. In its heyday, the neighborhood was home to a billion-dollar wholesale industry and its associated factories, warehouses, and railyards. Supporting this hub of industry was a network of infrastructure across 23 blocks of streets and alleys that, to this day, retain remnants of original paving materials (brick, cobblestone, and wood paver systems) and industrial infrastructure (loading docks, canopies, and abandoned railroad tracks in the public right-of-way).

However, with the modernization of distribution practices and the economic impact from The Great Depression, this previously thriving industrial neighborhood experienced a decline. In recent years, though, the area has undergone a significant transformation to become a vibrant, walkable urban neighborhood and a destination for entertainment, dining, and shopping, in part, due to the Target Field development attracting activity back to the area.

Pivotal to this revitalization was the ability for infrastructure to serve the area without infringing on its historic character.

Building a framework for success

With this goal in mind, the City of Minneapolis embarked on a comprehensive reconstruction project to improve over a mile of city streets. The success of the Historic North Loop Public Realm Reconstruction project involved thoughtful involvement of stakeholders and a dedicated vision of preserving historic elements and charm while adding modern amenities and accessibility.

The City hired Stantec to work with city planning and engineering staff to reach a preferred design for each heritage street and to outline a possible funding and implementation plan. Building on the Warehouse District Heritage Street Plan guidelines developed by Stantec and the City, Stantec prepared plans to reconstruct deteriorated pavement and improve pedestrian safety, while respecting and enhancing its historic character.

Stantec worked closely with the City to finalize preliminary design, including historic preservation treatments, and delivered a final detailed design package.

Developing consensus

This project involved many stakeholders throughout the development of the Heritage Street Plan and its subsequent street projects, including City engineers and planners, residents, companies with major real estate investments, small businesses, historic preservationists, potential investors, and the City’s Pedestrian Advisory Committee.

Onsite stakeholder tours and meetings helped bring disparate viewpoints to light and then built consensus through those conversations. As a result of this proactive approach, the community was enthusiastic to see its input realized by the time construction was underway.

Enhancing the environment

Because this area had been industrial for so long, it had not supported any greenspace or street trees for over a century.

With input from stakeholders, the City and Stantec learned that residents wanted trees incorporated into the new design for to enhance greenery. In addition to improving neighborhood aesthetics, the decision to include tree planting provided an opportunity to incorporate green infrastructure stormwater management facilities with the tree planting areas.

Tree beds were designed to receive sidewalk drainage to infiltrate the runoff, nourish the trees, and improve the quality of the stormwater that drains into the adjacent Mississippi River. Keeping historic character in mind, tree placement was also carefully planned to not impact loading docks or significant historic facades.

Maximizing authentic resources

In preserving the neighborhood’s historic roots, it was a priority to salvage as many original details as possible as part of the reconstruction project. Preservation included reusing existing materials such as vitrified clay paver bricks and granite curbs that had been installed in the early 1900s.

Because these reused bricks would be imbedded in pavement, the project team took a creative approach to pavement design. This process included determining a strength value for the bricks to ensure the roads would hold up well over time.

Notably, not every paver pulled from the street was salvageable so City staff and Stantec worked together to rate the pavers and determine which were adequate for reuse. In addition, the City’s Public Works Department saved bricks salvaged throughout the city, including those removed by developers working on new developments, those removed from utility projects, and similar bricks found under pavement from other reconstruction projects across the city.

Stantec also tracked down local salvage companies who kept these historic pavers in stock for resale and purchased the additional bricks needed.

The use of even a limited amount of historic material in a street reconstruction is unique, however it was imperative to do so to maintain the character of the neighborhood and keep in step with the Warehouse District Heritage Street Plan. This final product serves to honor this area’s unique past, while establishing a modern infrastructure framework that supports ongoing vitality.

This article was provided by Stantec, one of ASCE-MN’s sponsors. To see other benefits of becoming a sponsor, visit https://ascemn.org/sponsors or email treasurer@ascemn.org.

Planning and Immigration

By Haila Maze, AICP, Bolton & Menk, Inc.

With the important exception of indigenous people, most United States residents today can trace their origins back to other nations. Despite this, immigration remains a controversial topic in many communities. This article will provide a brief history of immigration in the US, an assessment of its impacts, and suggestions on how planners can address current concerns.

History of Immigration

Immigration typically is motivated by both push (reasons to leave) and pull (reasons to come) factors. Since the original European settlement of the land that was to become the United States, there have been several major waves of immigration. The actual number of immigrants by year has ebbed and flowed during this time, in response to policies and restrictions governing immigration into the country, as well as events and conditions elsewhere in the world that precipitated immigration. Currently, over 8 percent of Minnesota, 5 percent of North Dakota, and 4 percent South Dakota residents are foreign born. Nationally, around 13 percent of residents are foreign born.

The relationship between planning and immigration began early. As industrialization and the inflow of immigrant workers and their families fueled rapid growth of cities, planners responded to public health and safety needs regarding access to improved living and working conditions. This has continued, with some changes in response to the unique needs of each time.

Source: US Census Bureau 

Impact

The impact of immigration on the United States has been immeasurable. In today’s perspective, there are many ways in which it contributes to society. Populating and repopulating areas. Like many developed nations, the native born birth rate in the United States has declined. Immigrants replenish the population with younger people.

• Filling job vacancies. Likewise, immigrant workers have come to play an important role in the workforce, as the native born one ages.

• Revitalizing retail and services. Immigrants are on average more entrepreneurial as well. This fuels growth of business and industry, especially small scale and startup enterprises.

• Making unique places. Immigrants from other cultural backgrounds can bring unique food, art, music, and other cultural distinctives that make places interesting and distinct.

• Diversity of insights and perspectives. In an era of rapid change, diversity is a strength. New approaches and ideas help to fuel creative solutions.

Source: New American Economy, 2018 data

What Can Planners Do to Help?

Despite the benefits associated with immigrant populations, many communities have expressed concerns about the nation’s ability to accept and assimilate immigrants. The following covers some of the issues facing communities related to immigration, and how planners can help with a proactive and constructive response.

Issue #1: Learning Curve

With people moving to the country, there is often a basic unfamiliarity with how things are done here. The ways of government, culture, society, and work may be significantly different where they come from. Information overload, balancing multiple priorities, and language barriers can add to the challenge.

Planners can assist with education and outreach to connect, inform, and include people in public processes. It may also be a reason to simplify rules and regulations, increase transparency of public processes, and work with liaisons and partners to make connections. These improvements can benefit not only new immigrant populations, but also many others who may be less familiar with these topics.

Issue #2: Cultural Distinctives

Another area of concern with immigrants may be cultural distinctives. Each culture brings its own practices with regards to food and drink, recreation, religion, business practices, dress, living arrangements, and social interactions.

Planners can assist by educating themselves and others on cultural differences of which they may be unaware. This can provide insight as to how regulations and practices might have unforeseen consequences and need to be adjusted to better accommodate newcomers – or on the other hand, how immigrants may need to be educated about these issues. Planners can also encourage recognition and even celebration of positive differences that bring value, interest, and variety to the community.

Issue #3: Assistance Needed

Probably the most challenging issue is that immigrants arrive in this country somewhat under duress. They may be refugees from conflict, or just seeking a better life than is available in their place of origin. As a result, they may need at least some initial assistance from the government or nonprofits to meet their basic needs before they are able to be fully self-sufficient.

Planners can provide referrals for needed programs and services, support affordable housing options, promote workforce development strategies, and even help to hire diverse workers and partners. It is important to acknowledge that solutions here can span the full political spectrum – both helping people in need through assistance and empowering those who have a desire to work to succeed here.

This article was provided by Bolton & Menk, Inc., one of ASCE-MN’s sponsors. To see other benefits of becoming a sponsor, visit https://ascemn.org/sponsors or email treasurer@ascemn.org.