Whitman HS Artificial Turf field to get Pine infill. What's next Dirt infill? Who is paying for this new infill?

Giant bags filled with pine infill for Walt Whitman’s synthetic turf sports field sit along the sidelines as workers repair the field’s drainage system.

 https://www.marylandmatters.org/2022/04/06/advocates-hope-bill-to-monitor-synthetic-turf-waste-will-move-forward-in-final-days-of-legislative-session/

Breaking: Whitman HS Artificial Turf Field has Failed. 3 Yr Old Field not draining at required rate, infill must be removed.

Whitman High School's $1.3 million dollar artificial turf football field has failed. 

MSI Soccer put in this field, who is on the hook to make required repairs? Will the warranty cover what is needed to make the field usable again?  What is the mystery infill that MCPS now claims has "exceptional results?" 

Whitman High School's artificial turf field used IDA ORE infill. 

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On Thursday, February 10, 2022, 4:36 PM, Robert Dodd  wrote:

Dear Walt Whitman High School Community Members,

This message was developed in collaboration with the MCPS Division of Construction. The purpose of this message is to provide our community with both an update on the repair of the Walt Whitman High School (WHHS) artificial turf field and an outline on the reopening of the field. 

As many are aware, the WWHS artificial turf field system consists of multiple components, which include organic infill, the artificial field carpet, and an underdrainage system. Over the past three years, MCPS has maintained the artificial field consistent with warranty requirements. A link to the Artificial Turf Fields Program and artificial turf maintenance logs can be accessed at: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/athletics/programs/default/542923/

Even with the required maintenance over the last three years, the turf system has failed and is not draining at the rate required to make the surface playable after a rain event. MCPS is pursuing this failure as a condition of warranty and is coordinating with the contractor and manufacturer to make appropriate repairs to restore the field to full compliance. The approach to repairing the field will include removing the original organic infill and sand mixture and utilizing a newer organic infill that MCPS has recently been installing. MCPS has found that this new infill has produced exceptional results. 

The timeline of these repairs is contingent on the availability of specialized equipment as well as securing the infill material. Once the work begins, we anticipate a 3 to 4 week period to make the appropriate repairs. The timing of this work will compromise the beginning of spring sports. That said, our goal continues to be to have the turf field open as soon as possible during the spring season. MCPS Athletics is working with us to ensure that our student-athletes are impacted to the minimal amount possible as this work occurs. We will share specific changes to practice and contest locations and schedules within the next week.

We appreciate the patience and understanding of the Whitman community and look forward to reopening the field, once the necessary repairs have been completed. We will keep you updated once the repairs have begun. Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Robert W. Dodd, EdD

Principal

Walt Whitman High School

Whitman HS Black & White: Safety concerns force closure of turf field

 

By Ethan Schenker

NOVEMBER 7, 2021

Whitman’s artificial turf field has closed for the remainder of the fall athletics season as a precautionary safety measure, Principal Robert Dodd wrote in an email to community members on Thursday. 

Both Whitman athletics teams and outside sports organizations use the field, which had undergone repairs by MCPS specialists in October. Administrators are collaborating with school system officials to further evaluate the turf’s condition to identify any additional necessary repairs, Dodd wrote in his message. 

Student athletes told The Black & White that the field’s turf was particularly slippery, and that players’ use of the turf stirred up dust particles during practices and games this season. The playing conditions may have led to an injury on the girls soccer team and frequent falls during field hockey games in recent months, according to players. 

Both teams’ playoff games were previously scheduled to take place at Whitman on Friday night, but the field’s closure forced the teams to play at Walter Johnson High School. 

“This is a popular field receiving a lot of use and after evaluation, ‘in an abundance of caution,’ the field needs maintenance,” MCPS Communications Director Chris Cram wrote in an email to The Black & White. “You can’t use a field while it is being re-conditioned.” ..

https://theblackandwhite.net/70713/news/safety-concerns-force-closure-of-turf-field/?fbclid=IwAR3cWvM_bc3Un3bop8vJ1IiMXAYEw0RXZHMF_wfuK-H-VdYWubGSvOyBYks