December 2019
Building the Revs’ New State-of-the-Art Fields
Plus, Member Spotlight on Matt McDonnell
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10
14
CONTENTS • December 2019 FEATURES
8 Research
Justifying Your Late Season Fertilizer Applications
DEPARTMENTS
10 Cover Story
Building the Revs’ New State-of-theArt Fields
14 Member Spotlight
on Matt McDonnell
The official publication of the New England Sports Turf Managers Association (NESTMA), the New England Blade is dedicated to educating, advising, and informing members of the profession and furthering the goals of the Association. The New England Blade carries news and features related to the sports turf management profession. Publisher is not responsible for unsolicited material and reserves the right to edit any article or advertisement submitted for publication and to refuse advertising not in keeping with the goals of the Association. Publisher assumes no responsibility for the validity of claims in connection with items appearing in the New England Blade. Mention of a commercial product does not imply endorsement by the New England Blade, NESTMA, or Leading Edge Communications, or preference over similar products not mentioned. The New England Blade is published quarterly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of NESTMA. Presorted standard postage is paid at Jefferson City, MO. Printed in the U.S.A. Advertising: For display and classified advertising rates and insertions, please contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC, 206 Bridge Street, Franklin, TN 37064, (615) 790-3718, Fax (615) 794-4524.
2 • New England BLADE • December 2019
5 NESTMA HQ Update 7 Industry News
On the cover: Activitas concept rendering for New England Revolution Training Facility at Gillette Stadium and Patriot Place in Foxborough, MA.
Advancing professionalism in sports turf management and athletic field safety through education, research, and scholarships.
4 President’s Message
13 Index of Advertisers
Officers
Directors
Board of Trustees
President Ben Polimer Town of Weston Weston, MA
Ed Ball Brewster Academy Wolfeboro, NH
Kim Britton Saint Anselm College Manchester, NH
President Elect Chris McGinty Framingham Parks Department Framingham, MA Treasurer Art Goodhind Town of Natick Natick, MA Secretary Brian Boesch University of Rhode Island Kingston, RI Past President Victoria Wallace UConn Extension Norwich, CT Special Advisor Mary Owen UMASS Turf Program Rochdale, MA
Mark Casey Finch Services, Inc. Andover, MA Mark DeWolf Wolfeboro, NH Ed Downing Read Custom Soils/ A.D. Makepeace Wareham, MA Matt McDonnell The Governor’s Academy Byfield, MA Ed Olsen Town of Needham Parks & Forestry Needham, MA Jason Puopolo Clark University Worcester, MA Andrew Walsh Pine Banks Park Malden, MA
Michael Buras, CSFM Longwood Cricket Club Chestnut Hill, MA John Cunniff Walpole, MA Management Team Virginia Wood, Executive Director Peggy Benjamin, Finance Kristen Dreyer, Education Carrie Martin, Registration Charissa Sharkey, Membership & Sponsors NESTMA Headquarters 8-D Pleasant Street South Natick, MA 01760 P: (508) 653-1241 F: (508) 653-4112 NESTMAinfo@gmail.com Published by: Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street Franklin, TN 37064 P: (615) 790-3718 info@leadingedge communications.com
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December 2019 • New England BLADE • 3
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
NESTMA in the New Year
I
hope you had a fantastic 2019 and are looking forward to a quiet winter. As we slide into 2020, think about becoming an active and involved member of NESTMA. In this age of technology, we are seeing decreased participation in groups like the VFW, Elks, Lions Club and other organizations. You, on the other hand, are a member of a thriving association of engaged professionals. Use your membership to its fullest. Attend NESTMA events, take advantage of NESTMA publications, and use fellow members as a sounding board and a resource for questions. Volunteer to serve on a committee, perhaps think about Board of Directors service. Our committees, Board of Directors and Management Team work hard all year long providing fantastic programs, events
4 • New England BLADE • December 2019
and resources. Thanks for your continued support and here’s to a great 2020! May your infields be playable and your turf green,
Ben Polimer NESTMA President Fields and Grounds Coordinator, Town of Weston, MA
NESTMA HQ UPDATE
Education is Key By M. Virginia Wood, Executive Director
M
anaging sports turf in New England isn’t easy. Between Mother Nature, the economy, government regulation, and ever-changing facility demands, it can be a struggle. NESTMA’s goal is to help members build their careers by acquiring new knowledge, finding innovative resources, and improving productivity. NESTMA’s educational events are well-crafted by the dedicated members of our education committee (see below). These member volunteers are committed to offering the best solution-based programming in the region. They keep their finger on the pulse of the industry, search out the key players, and design programs based on NESTMA’s commitment to providing members with NESTMA EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Ian Lacy Tom Irwin Advisors Burlington, MA
Matt McDonnell Governor’s Academy Byfield, MA
forward-thinking education and access to cutting-edge information. I am often struck by the high level of conversation and collaboration that happens among members at our educational events. Powerful networking and mutual support are hallmarks of NESTMA involvement. As we look forward to our next season, I hope that you’ll take advantage of all that NESTMA has to offer. You are part of a professional community that understands what it takes to manage turf in this part of the country. Getting together regularly to celebrate, commiserate, and connect are the greatest benefits of NESTMA membership. Stay tuned and stay involved! •
Ed Olsen Town of Needham Parks & Forestry Needham, MA
Jason Puopolo Clark University Worcester, MA
Andrew Walsh Pine Banks Park Malden, MA
December 2019 • New England BLADE • 5
NESTMA HQ UPDATE • continued
AWARDS MEETING & LUNCH
Wednesday, March 4, 2020 • 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. RICC, Rotunda Room • Providence, RI
N
ESTMA’s popular awards meeting and lunch will be held during the New England Regional Turfgrass Conference in Providence on Wednesday, March 4, 2020.
THANK YOU!
• Good food & great company: catch up with fellow NESTMA members and make new connections • Annual awards presentations: find out who will be named Sports Turf Manager & Commercial Partner of the Year • Rapid-fire idea exchange: explore mutual challenges and proven solutions in exciting roundtable conversations • Bring a guest: introduce a colleague to all that NESTMA has to offer
EVERYONE WELCOME & ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED We want to ensure that everyone has a seat at the table and plenty to eat, so please reserve your spot by February 20. Attendance for current members is complimentary and you are encouraged to bring a sport turf colleague as your guest at no charge.
SIGN UP BY FEBRUARY 20 online at NESTMA.org or by phone at (508) 653-1241. NESTMA’s Awards Meeting and Lunch is separate from your NERTC registration.
MEMBER NEWS NESTMA board member Matt McDonnell of Governor’s Academy in Byfield, MA has been invited to serve as NESTMA’s liaison to the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC). In this new volunteer role, Matt will keep NEPSAC members informed about the resources available to them through NESTMA, help with educational content development, and continue to build a strong relationship with this venerable association of 175+ Athletic Directors from accredited New England independent schools. 6 • New England BLADE • December 2019
Welcome Jessica Brodie, CPRP, new executive director of the Vermont Recreation and Parks Association (VRPA). Jessica has served in parks and recreation roles for 10+ years including her most recent position as Director of Recreation in Wayland, MA. She takes over for Betsy Terry, CPRP, who retired after 18 years at the helm of VRPA. We wish Betsy all the best as she transitions into this exciting new phase of her life! Reach Jessica at jessica@vrpa.org or 774-254-0071. •
INDUSTRY NEWS
STMA Update: Environmental Certification Program Continues to Grow
The
STMA Environmental Facility Certification program was launched in 2016. It took a committee of dedicated sports turf managers and university specialists four years to create the program. Version 2.0 is now the current document. Within two months of the program’s launch, there were eight facilities in the program. Today, there are 39 certified facilities including NESTMA member Green Farms Academy in Westport, CT. The document includes sections on storm water management, fertilization, IPM/pesticides, mowing, energy conservation, shop building/storage, irrigation, recycling, and educational outreach. A self-assessment document completed by the sports turf manager of a facility, plus an attester evaluation, is submitted to STMA for review. A score of no less than 80% for each section triggers the visit from the attester to verify accuracy and provide additional input about the facility. The attester is either a Certified Sports Field Manager or an academic in turfgrass management. The attester completes an electronic form and recommends the facility for certification. A $50 application fee is required when the facility assessment is submitted. Once the facility successfully achieves the
certification, a $100 fee is then invoiced, which covers the cost of the recognition material sent to the facility. STMA is just now beginning the recertification and renewal process for the first group of certified facilities. The STMA Environment Committee, chaired by UConn Extension’s and NESTMA’s own Vickie Wallace, is currently working on Version 3.0, which will expand certification to include additional subject areas, such as landscaped areas surrounding facilities, natural areas and open space, and parking lots. For more information about STMA’s Environmental Facility Certification Program, go to STMA.org. •
This article was excerpted with permission from SportsTurf magazine.
Mary Owen
F
HONORED
amily, friends and colleagues came from near and far to honor Mary Owen on September 3, 2019 at the UMass Alumni Turf Group’s annual Troll Golf Classic at TPC of Boston in Norton, MA. Speakers Bill Spence, retired superintendent of The Country Club, Dr. Pat Vittum, retired UMass professor, and NESTMA’s president Ben Polimer recognized Mary for her countless contributions to the turfgrass industry within our region. “Mary Owen has been with NESTMA from the very beginning,” said Ben Polimer. “She has been the stabilizing force and the glue that has held our organization together. She has been a great teacher to all of us… and we thank her for the many years of dedicated service, passion, and leadership.” NESTMA was proud to support this event with a significant contribution. Proceeds from the tournament are directed to turf education programs at UMass. •
Congratulations Mary! Tricia Serio, Dean of the UMass College of Natural Sciences, helped Bob Ruszala, President of the ATG, present Mary with her award.
December 2019 • New England BLADE • 7
RESEARCH
Justifying your Late Season Fertilizer Applications By Frank S. Rossi. Ph.D., Cornell University
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itrogen fertilization remains an important topic in managing landscapes from farms to lawns. The application of synthetic fertilizer is implicated as a measurable contributor to climate change and as a risk to water quality. As a result, it requires due diligence in the green industry to maximize the efficient use of fertilizer that meets agronomic/ ecosystem benefits without compromising water quality. These two facts can no longer be separated when making supplemental fertilizer decisions. There is no justification that can be made for gratuitous application of fertilizer because a “program” blindly called for a fertilizer application when it is clear growth is adequate and traffic levels are low, or a personal favorite “we’ve always done it that way.” For decades Land Grant Universities across the Northern US (including this Land Grant Scientist) would recommend applications of N fertilizer be made after top growth has ceased, usually when the daily average minimum temperature is 50ºF for three to five days. Typically, this would be from as early as Halloween in ADK to December on Long Island. This almost always assured good spring green-up and sometimes significant
Figure 1
8 • New England BLADE • December 2019
clipping production early, often requiring increased mowing frequency. This recommendation is no longer justifiable. Professor Karl Guillard with graduate student Salvatore Magnafico of UConn published a study conducted from 2000– 2003 titled Fall Fertilization Timing Effects on Nitrate Leaching and Turfgrass Color and Growth. In this paper they applied 2 lbs of N per 1000 square feet over 24 months with the four late season treatments providing a third pound of actual N at dates spaced from September to December (temperatures avg. 60ºF in Sept., 52ºF in Oct., 36ºF in Nov. and 27ºF in Dec.). The N source was 80% water soluble-N and 20% water insoluble-N. The leachate that moved past the turfgrass rootzone was collected and reported in the graph below. In short, the later the N was applied in season, the more leached past the root zone, posing a risk to ground water quality. In fact, close inspection of the graph (Fig. 1) suggests that applying N after September 15th increases overall N mass loss by 50%, essentially wasting N that was paid for, applied and lost. They noted no meaningful differences between color and clipping production related to late season timing, concluding
that the agronomic benefit in spring was still evident from September applications. Additional research has been conducted that has shown N uptake in shoots and roots from late season applications decreases as growth slows (Fig. 2). This correlation was further reported in research conducted by Professor Doug Soldat and Marty Petrovic that showed N uptake was reduced as EvapoTranspiration (ET) declined later in the season. This is consistent with the concept that N moves in water via Mass Flow, therefore as water movement to the roots slow, so does N uptake. Consequently, an important Best Management Practice (BMP) at this time of year is to lower late-season N rates, use soluble N sources, and apply while active growth and ET continues. This could be from Mid September in the ADK to late Oct. in SE NY. •
Figure 2: Nitrogen fertilizer uptake efficiency declines later into the fall. Fertilizer that isn’t taken up by the plant sits in the soil until the following spring or is leached out during winter. Avoid late season apps that are inefficient. September fertilization is best to maximize recovery and prepare for winter. Courtesy of Doug Soldat.
Editor’s Note: ADK is the Adirondack region of New York state and SE NY is Long Island, so you could relate it to New England to midSeptember in Northern regions of New England and late October in Southern portions of Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. If you’re interested in additional detail about late season fertilization, Dr. Rossi recently recorded a podcast with UCONN professor, Dr. Karl Guillard who explains more about his recent research mentioned in this edition: https://www.turfnet.com/podcasts/rossi/guillard/ Reprinted with permission: Gazing in the Grass (2019). Cornell University Turfgrass Science Program. Cornell Turfgrass ShortCUTT. Vol.20:12.
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December 2019 • New England BLADE • 9
COVER STORY
BUILDING the Rev’s NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART FIELDS By Patrick Maguire, RLA
E
stablished as one of the original Major League Soccer franchises by Robert Kraft in 1994, the New England Revolution called the old Foxboro Stadium home until the completion of Gillette Stadium in 2001. The Revs’ original training ground was at the Foxborough State School. While it has “state” in the name, it certainly was not “state-ofthe-art.” In 1999, two under-drained sand-based fields, shared with the New England Patriots, were constructed as part of the Gillette Stadium project which opened in 2001. A third sand-based field was constructed in 2002 as the principal training field for the Revolution, though it too was utilized by the Patriots when the Revs were not in season. The ongoing success of the six-time World Champion Patriots, coupled with expansion of the Rev’s fanbase and the popularity of the Revolution’s Academy, made the need for a more specific “soccer only” training facility a top priority for the Kraft family and Revolution management. The Kraft Group engaged Activitas, field consultants for the Patriots and Revolution for more than a decade, to study sites around Gillette Stadium and Patriot Place to locate a new stateof-the-art training facility for the Revs’ First Team and Revolution Academy. Multiple sites were considered, and a 68-acre parcel located behind Patriot Place and the Empower Field House was selected. The site was not without significant challenges. Of the 68acres, only 24 could feasibly be utilized for development of the facility. The site was quarried throughout the 1960s, leaving it devoid of topsoil. Significant grade changes and streams rerouted as part of the quarry operations divided the site. Over time the site became dappled with depressions that created new wetland areas which are now under state, local and federal jurisdiction. Club ownership and the design team viewed the traditional development shortcomings of the parcel as an opportunity to transform the derelict site into a one-of-kind training facility. Instead of conventional cookie cutter fields clustered side by side and end to end, the design dispersed the fields throughout the site, linking them with natural woodland pathways, boardwalks and pedestrian bridges. Degraded wetlands and riverfront were restored with imported engineered soils, native wetland and upland seed mixes. More than 350 native trees, 550 shrubs and 1000 grasses and herbaceous ground cover plants were planted to create habitat value and a native New England forest aesthetic.
10 • New England BLADE • December 2019
The first phase of the project, a 111,000 sq. ft. training field, was completed in the Fall of 2017. Initially utilized by the First Team, it consisted of a 10" sand based rootzone over a 4" pea stone drainage blanket and underdrain system. The second phase of the project, just completed in October 2019, consists of a new 19,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art training building. Designed by Populous, the building includes lockers for the First Team and Academy programs; a full-service kitchen and dining area; strength, conditioning and training rooms; media support; and offices for Revolution management, operations and sales staff. Adjoining the new building are two First Team fields surrounded by large earth berms landscaped with native vegetation. Totaling approximately 226,500 sq. ft., the fields have a 10" sand-based profile over a 4" pea stone drainage blanket to match the field built in the initial phase. The 85/15 sand soil mix drains between 13 – 15 i.p.h. The sod is a blend of durable Kentucky bluegrass varieties (30% Midnight Star, 30% Brilliant and
Subgrade preparation is critical for performance. STS crews laser grade subgrade and pea-stone drainage trenches prior to spreading drainage blanket materials.”
40% P105) grown by Tuckahoe Turf Farms in New Jersey. The big-roll sod was cut and delivered at 1.25" to enable play immediately following installation. As “high performance” as the first field was conceived, constructed and maintained, this is where the similarities end. The First Team fields are next-level in concept and execution. Both are designed to share a three million BTU SubAir System to enable better air exchange and control of rootzone temperatures during the shoulder seasons. The fields are separated with a liner that will enable independent operation of the system depending on which field will be isolated for use. The Northernmost field is the workhorse, augmented with a custom designed 15 million BTU glycol-based heating system. Located within the drainage blanket to provide better and more uniform heat distribution, it consists of more than 31 miles of ¾" PEX tubing placed at 8" o.c. To provide further temperature management, this field has infrastructure provisions for the future inclusion of a 3 million BTU McCloud Cover System by Covermaster. The system includes a translucent inflatable 2 mm tarp anchored every 10' o.c. to trap heated air while still providing the passage of almost 60% of available UV light. This multi-faceted temperature management system will enable the Revolution to practice on grass during their February training camp, well before most grass fields in the Northeast have broken dormancy. It will also keep the field actively growing well into November to coincide with the MLS Cup Playoffs. Other facility elements include a sod nursery for in season repairs, areas for off field storage of goals and equipment, and “Revolution Hill”, a 25' wide section of maintained grass. The hill climbs some 140' at 16% and is used for cardio training.
Installation of PEX tubing as part of glycol heating system at primary training pitch.
Wetland and upland restoration seed mix and native shrubs were planted to heal the degraded site, provide habitat value and erosion control.
COVER STORY • continued
The fields were constructed by Sports Turf Specialties (STS) from Wrentham, Massachusetts led by NESTMA member Dennis Brolin who served as the Field Superintendent for the Patriots and Revolution from 1991 – 2003. Dennis guided construction of the original stadium field and the three existing practice fields. NESTMA member and former Patriots and Revolution Field Manager Jon Bengston helped conceive the new field profiles which are now managed by new Field Superintendent Ryan Bjorn and Assistant Superintendent Elliot Linstrum. •
Boardwalks and pedestrian bridges were built to span wetlands and provide rustic connections between the new building and the individual training fields.
After each practice Gillette Stadium field staff fill divots with seed mix and provide a fresh mow.
12 • New England BLADE • December 2019
NESTMA member Patrick Maguire, RLA is President and Founding Principal at Activitas a planning, landscape architecture, civil engineering, and athletic facility design firm based in Dedham, Massachusetts. Contact him via email at epm@activitas or phone (781) 355-7047. Activitas.com.
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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Member Spotlight
MATT McDONNELL Athletic Fields Coordinator • Governor’s Academy • Byfield, MA • Curry College graduate • NESTMA member since 2010 • Serves on NESTMA Board of Directors • NEPSAC/NESTMA Liaison What was your first job in the industry? The Governor’s Academy was my first job in this field. I began working as a caretaker of all the grounds of the 500acre campus. Prior to that, I worked for 18 years in site construction, with an emphasis on land development.
Where did you go from there? After a few years, a position opened up for coordinator of the athletic fields and I jumped on that opportunity. Who were your mentors when you first started in the business? Dennis Brolin, of STS and Peter Thibeault of Nobles and Greenough School helped me a great deal right out of the gate. Dennis did a big job on our baseball field and he allowed me to pick his brain during the project. I asked Matt McDonnell
countless questions and got great advice. I called Pete with many questions and went to his workshops at Nobles. I have a lot of respect for these two gentlemen and appreciate the experience they have, as well as the advice they’ve shared with me. What’s the best business advice you’ve ever received? “Love what you do, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” What advice would you share with people starting out in sports turf management today? Get involved with NESTMA. It’s a perfect way to meet great professionals who love to share their expertise as well as their experiences with day-to-day issues. It’s a good way to learn about successful products and quality contractors who can save you time and headaches. NESTMA Field Days provide opportunities to meet one-on-one with professionals and see useful demonstrations of new products. Since the beginning of your career, what is the biggest change you’ve seen in the sports turf industry? The biggest change is definitely seen in the machinery. There have been technical advances that have changed the workforce and the quality of the work. The machines now do more of the precision work and cut down immensely on the labor, which decreases fatigue and human errors. There are now more people with specialized skills who can focus on more specific needs such as irrigation, laser
14 • New England BLADE • December 2019
grading, sodding, tree cutting, soil experts, etc. I have met many of these specialists and seen demonstrations of the new products at NESTMA educational events. What is the next “game-changer” you see on the horizon for the sports turf industry? With technology racing forward, there will be more machinery and less labor in the field. There are already robots painting soccer and lacrosse fields, technology available to control irrigation, and drones to monitor moisture on fields. The biggest game changer might be the challenge to adapt to new technology and find ways for labor to be more efficient and productive. What’s your favorite/most useful: Equipment? The AERA-vator is a multi-purpose machine that loosens up the ground and plants seed at the same time. It does a fantastic job and saves the crew a lot of time and labor. Product? I’m a firm believer in an organic approach to healthy fields. We get great results from the 6-0-6 fertilizer and vermacast which seems to help our athletic fields and campus grounds stay green, look full and healthy, and keeps grubs and insects at bay. Technology? Irrigation technology has had the biggest impact on the grounds and athletic fields we maintain. What have you enjoyed most about being a NESTMA member? The networking through NESTMA is priceless. I constantly learn useful bits of information at the workshops. I always walk away with new ideas to put into practice and share with my crew. My fellow NESTMA board members provide a wealth of knowledge and experience. I’m proud to work with such great professionals and leaders of our industry. Can you share a bit about your family life and what you enjoy doing in your free time? My wife and I are proud parents of five
Matt (far left) with his Governor’s Academy colleagues.
children. We have one grandchild and our daughter and son-in-law are expecting another child in December. Our children live in different places throughout the country, so we spend time getting together at various destinations to enjoy time and activities together. Hockey has been a lifelong passion of mine and coaching has kept me involved.
I have been a part of the Governor’s hockey program for the past 34 years. I’m fortunate to be in the ISL, which is arguably the best high school hockey league in the country. My players know that I am readily accessible. They can always find me out and about on the athletic fields: “the biggest office on campus!” •
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