This document summarizes a public information meeting about plans to install athletic field lighting, synthetic turf and related stormwater enhancements on rectangular field #4 at Great Falls Nike Park. The meeting covered an overview of the lighting and turf projects from the Park Authority and stormwater enhancement measures from DPWES. It discussed funding partnerships, benefits of synthetic turf like increased playability and durability. Stormwater plans include stone galleries, grassy swales, soil amendments and reforestation to maximize retention and infiltration. Standards for lighting control and levels were also reviewed.

1. Public Information Meeting
Installation of Athletic Field Lighting, Synthetic Turf and Related
Stormwater Enhancements on Rectangular Field #4
at Great Falls Nike Park
July 18, 2012

2. Introductions
Dranesville District Supervisor’s Office
 John Foust, Supervisor
Dranesville District Park Authority Board Member
 Kevin Fay
Department of Public Works and Environmental Services
 Craig Carinci, Director Stormwater Planning
 Fred Rose, Chief Watershed Planning and Assessment
 Emma Gutzler, Ecologist, Stormwater Planning
Fairfax County Public Schools
 Steve Nicholson
Fairfax County Park Authority
 David Bowden, Director Planning & Development Division
 John Lehman, Manager, Project Management Branch
 Deb Garris, Manager, Synthetic Turf Branch

3. Meeting Agenda
 Presentation: Park Authority
Overview of Project to Include Athletic Field Lighting Technology and
Performance Standards and Synthetic Turf Field Development
 Presentation: Department of Public Works and
Environmental Services (DPWES)
Overview of Proposed Stormwater Enhancement Measures
 Informal Discussions

4. Funding Partnerships
 Great Falls Nike #4 is a partnership between
Great Falls Lacrosse and Department of
Neighborhood and Community Services and
Park Authority.

5. Great Falls Nike Park
(1991 Master Plan)

6. Orientation Map – Field #4
Great Falls Nike Park

7.  Increased Playability
 Estimated to increase playing capacity by 62% in
conjunction with the addition of lights, when compared
to natural turf. Increases capacity on lighted existing
field sites lessening the need for constructing additional
fields.
 Increased Durability
 Reduces field closure due to overuse, allowing fields to
remain open for the length of the season. Eliminates
divots, bald spots, and uneven terrain of rigorously used
natural turf fields.
Why Synthetic Turf?

8. Why Synthetic Turf?
 Lower Maintenance Costs
 Requires no mowing, fertilizing, pesticides or re-seeding.
Regular maintenance includes grooming and debris
removal.
(continued)

9. Quality
 Synthetic turf systems provide water quality improvement by
reducing phosphorus runoff to nearby streams and
tributaries.
 The synthetic turf system acts as a filter, capturing small
amounts of physical and chemical contaminants.
 Natural grass athletic fields often do not have healthy stands
of grass due to over-use. The lack of healthy stands of grass
increases the amount of sediment present in
stormwater runoff.
 Synthetic turf fields do not require the use of fertilizer and
other chemicals that ultimately enter the natural stormwater
system.
Stormwater Management Benefits of Synthetic Turf

10. Standard Synthetic Field
Development Profile
Synthetic turf
Inlaid field line
Finish stone
Open graded aggregate base
Geo-textile fabric
Underdrain piping system
Subgrade
Natural grass
Concrete curb
BASE AND DRAINAGE SYSTEM DETAIL
 Design meets the PFM requirements for
stormwater management and BMP
 Reduces the post development 2 YR and 10 YR
peak runoff rates to less than predevelopment
conditions
 Reduces phosphorous by 15% which exceeds
the PFM redevelopment requirements

11. Enhanced Stormwater Retention - Stone Galleries
 Provides water quality and
volume reduction beyond the
PFM requirements
 Total Phosphorus Removal 1.2
lbs/year
 Goal is to retain / infiltrate the
100 YR storm volume

12. Piney Branch at Great Falls Nike Park
 Drainage area of
approximately 36 acres
 Current project focuses
on 3.5 acres
 Working with Park
Authority and
Forestville Elementary
on other opportunities

13. Stormwater Enhancements
Goal: Maximize retention and infiltration of
stormwater at field #4
Reforestation
Organic Soil
Amendment
Stone Gallery
Underdrains
Grassy Swale

14. Stone Galleries
 High measured
infiltration rates
 Captures water from
2.68 acres
 Four linear stone
galleries underlying the
turf field
 One along the
southern endline
 Temporary storage
allowing infiltration

15. Grassy Swale
 Parallel along the
western sideline
 High measured
infiltration rates
 Treats stormwater
from 0.40 acre
 Reduces runoff, total
phosphorus and total
nitrogen

16. Organic Soil Amendments
 Around the field
 Deeply tilled in
organic compost
 Restores soil
porosity and
increases
infiltration
Insert close up photo of
compost (in hands??)
Insert photo of soil
amendments being
incorporated

17. Reforestation
 Native trees and
shrubs on 0.44 acre
 Encourages infiltration
 Intercepts and filters
runoff
 Provides habitat

18. Enhanced Stormwater Accomplishments
 Additional retention
of stormwater runoff
from field #4
 Reduced runoff =
reduced pollutants

19. Stone Base Installation

20. Synthetic Turf Installation

21. Installing Infill Materials

22. Proposed Synthetic Turf Infill Options
 “FutrFill – TPE (Thermo Plastic Elastomer)
derived from an environmentally inert
material process and Silica Sand Mixture
 “PureFill” – Cork which is a totally organic
product, 100% recyclable with no waste
by‐products harvested from cork oak
trees every nine years and Silica Sand
Mixture

23. Completed Field With Inlays

24. Replacement of Synthetic Turf
 A well engineered sub-surface drainage
system should be sustainable for two or
three synthetic turf replacements

25. Life Span
Synthetic
Turf
Natural
Turf

26. Latest Lighting Control - Rectangle
• Example Rectangle

27. Obtrusive Light
• Useful Light
• 3 Interrelated Elements
• Spill Light
• Glare
• Sky Glow

28. Field Lighting History
• Before 1990
• Light Trespass Not Considered
• No Spillover Control
• Wooden Poles
• After 1990
• PA Addresses Light Trespass
• Concrete Polls
• Lighting Control
• Early
• Latest
• Shields

29. Control of Obtrusive Light
• Shielded Fixtures
• Appropriate Pole Heights
• Downward Aiming Fixtures
• Optimum Aiming
• Fewer Fixtures

30. Control of Obtrusive Light
• Shielded Fixtures
• Efficient Reflectors
• Reduces Energy Needs
• Maximize Light on Field
• Efficient Lamp Design
• Optimizes Light Output

31. Light System Control
• Control Link
• Satellite
• Internet-based
• Phone
• Staffed Control Center
• Field Control Units
• System Monitoring

32. Field Lighting Standards
IESNA Recommended Lighting
(fc) = foot candles
Class Rectangle Diamond Infield Diamond Outfield
III – High School 30 fc 50 fc 30 fc
IV – Low Recreation 20 fc 30 fc 20 fc

33. Field Lighting Standards
Rectangle A Diamond & Rectangle B
Max Spill 0.3 fc 0.8 fc
Max Glare 7,000 c 12,000 c
• Max Spill – 150 feet
• Max Glare – 200 feet
• Property Line

34. Saved for New Slide from Deb

38. Example of Sports Illumination Plan

39. Latest Lighting Control - Rectangle

40. For more information contact:
 Stormwater Planning
 Emma Gutzler or Irene Haske
 703-324-5500, TTY 711
 Park Authority
 Charles Mends-Cole
 703-324-8640, TTY 711
 www.fairfaxcounty.gov