(COLLEGE STATION, Texas) - Texas A&M University recently hosted a grand opening ceremony for the newly renovated Penberthy Rec Sports Complex.
Several new AstroTurf fields, as well as a maintenance building and a pavilion were constructed. The complex also features new lights, a new parking area, a new area to check out sports equipment, and new bathrooms and showers with changing areas. The total cost of the project was nearly $9 million.
“The Texas A&M student body deserves outdoor facilities that are on par with the indoor facilities, said Dennis Corrington, the Executive Director of Rec Sports. “Not only do we meet that expectation, but now we have one of the top collegiate recreational facilities in the nation.”
Texas A&M enlisted the help of AstroTurf to create more playing opportunities for the approximately 15,000 students who participate in intramural sports and sport clubs at the College Station school.
The Penberthy Rec Sports Complex is a 48-acre facility which plays host to the outdoor intramural and sport clubs programs for Aggie students. The complex was named for W.L. Penberthy, the father of intramural sports at Texas A&M.
Over 463,500 square feet of that facility was being converted to AstroTurf. Construction is complete and students are now using the center.
“We knew we needed to make a change to synthetic turf,” said Rick Hall, Senior Associate Director of Rec Sports. “We talked with several turf companies and educated ourselves throughout the process. AstroTurf is the one that impressed us. We feel like we’re getting the best turf system at a very affordable price.”
Hall, along with other representatives from Texas A&M, visited Brenham High School’s Cub Stadium field and the eight AstroTurf fields at West Texas A&M University during the process, and came away knowing that AstroTurf was the right decision.
The fields are constructed of AstroTurf GameDay Grass Extreme. The new surface contains the all new Horseshoe fiber. Horseshoe, is an Omega-shaped fiber which has better mechanical memory and remains upright longer, has a more grass-like ball roll, and offers the best aesthetics of any field. It is combined with the AstroTurf XP fiber. XP is a slit-film product which offers better infill encapsulation, best resistance to wear, and great pile density. The product also features texturized RootZone. RootZone® is a fiber which acts as a thatch layer, creating minimal rubber splash, uniform energy return, and better shock absorbency, while encapsulating the infill and reducing migration.
Burnside Services handled all base and drainage work on the project, as well as all driveways and parking lots. Burnside is operated by Tommy, Dayle, and Jake Burnside, all of whom attended Texas A&M.
“This is, by far, the largest athletic field project we have worked on,” said Tommy Burnside. “This is about 11 acres of turf and we moved 50,000 yards of dirt.”
Two of the fields are 150 yards X 100 yards and will primarily host intramural sports events such as flag football and soccer. Each field can accommodate two flag football fields or modified soccer fields. Each field can also be converted to full-size fields for soccer, lacrosse, and ultimate.
“We have one of the largest intramural sports and sport clubs programs in the country,” said Hall. “Athletes use those fields from 6:00 p.m. until midnight, five days a week and we were wearing out our fields by the sheer volume of play.”
The weather didn’t help either. According to Hall, from September to the end of January in 2008, they had seven inches of rain and 20 lost rain days. In the same period, from September 2009 until January 2010, they had nearly 20 inches of rain with 44 lost rain days. They needed an alternative.
“With AstroTurf® we are getting surfaces which are not affected by the weather,” said Hall. “Also, it allows us to implement some field rotation to help keep our natural grass fields in great shape. Rotation was a luxury we didn’t have before.”
Intramural sports, first brought to college campuses in 1913, continue to grow in both popularity and importance. According to the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA), 75% of students who attend school offering recreational sports programs and facilities, participate in or use them. That numbers equals approximately 5.3 million students.
A 2006 study published in Recreational Sports Journal said 31% of students reported that an intramural sports program was an important factor in attending the college, and over 37% said those same programs were important in deciding to stay at the school. 83% of students said they participate in recreation sports on a weekly basis, and 93% said they would like to.
“We have a lot of prospective students and parents who look at our indoor and outdoor rec sports facilities,” said Hall. “I have no doubt it influences their decisions. It is a key factor in the development of life skills and wellness. It also has some effect on the recruiting of faculty and staff members.”
The other two fields are 150 yards X 85 yards and host the university’s sport club programs such as lacrosse, soccer, ultimate, and rugby.
Sport clubs are also an important part of the collegiate recreational landscape. Over 80 sports are offered for sport clubs at colleges across the country and nearly 11,000 sport clubs are registered and active at NIRSA member institutions.
While the Texas A&M project is a large one by most standards, it is just part of a growing trend toward recreational sports development. In 2008, NIRSA estimated nearly $4 billion in recreational sports
facility construction between 2008-2013. Those project estimates were for 96 new construction projects, 62 expansion projects, and 62 renovation projects, with an average project price of about $21 million and covering about 90,000 square feet.
The growth in projects such as this will make Texas A&M a showcase facility for others looking at similar projects. Hall said they will be hosting regional workshops for other schools and anticipates spending a lot of time showing the new AstroTurf fields and touting the positive benefits of having them. He is also expecting calls from other high schools and municipalities which are exploring the benefits of synthetic turf.
The fields at Penberthy also have an added environmental and economic impact. In 2010, BASF did a study comparing AstroTurf fields to natural grass fields. In 11 environmental categories, AstroTurf had a lower environmental footprint than natural grass. Factors contributing to this include reduced maintenance and mowing, which cause a variety of emissions. Other factors include elimination of fertilizers and pesticides, as well as the need for water. AstroTurf fields also use soy-based polyols in the backing of products, reducing their dependence on foreign oil.
From an economic standpoint, over 20 years, AstroTurf fields are 15% less expensive than natural grass fields, even when the cost of turf replacement is considered.
“We are proud to be a part of this enormous project at Texas A&M University,” said Bryan Peeples, President of AstroTurf. “Recreational and club sports are so important and these fields will allow Texas A&M to provide the very best surfaces available, while ensuring the growth of their programs over the years to come.”
About AstroTurf
For many athletes and sport enthusiasts, the AstroTurf brand has redefined the way the game is played. The company offers advanced, state-of-the-art, multi-sport and specialized synthetic turf systems with proprietary engineered technologies, leveraging the industry’s first vertically integrated manufacturing system. A growing number of high schools, colleges, professional sports teams and municipalities continue to select AstroTurf-branded products for their premium quality, technical superiority and safety. Recent innovations from AstroTurf include GameDay Grass 3D with RootZone, a polyethylene/nylon hybrid system which most closely replicates natural grass; a non-chemical antimicrobial shield protecting against MRSA and other infectious bacteria; and AstroFlect Technology which significantly reduces turf surface temperatures. To learn more, visit www.astroturfusa.com.
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