Handbook explores outdoor spaces such as small athletic fields, vegetable gardens, and playgrounds that provide opportunities for physical challenges, exercise, sensory and fantasy play, organized sports and upsupervised free play. Features the District of Columbia public elementary schoolyards. Explains the qualities communities and parents should look for in schoolyards. Includes an assessment tool to rate your elementary schoolyard, and advice on how to plan and develop a quality schoolyard. 31p

Addresses many factors that need consideration during the process of school site selection, planning, development, and use. The guide examines not only the site selection and planning processes, but also playground planning, recreation and athletic fields planning. Specific considerations include analyses of the surrounding community or territory; building access and security; the surrounding natural environment and available support services; landscaping, utilities, and vehicular traffic; and playground equipment and safety. Final sections provide athletic field layouts for track and field events; football, soccer, and baseball fields; and basketball, volleyball, and tennis courts. Fourteen references are included. 67p.

Provides technical information to those responsible for the design, construction, renovation, or maintenance of sports fields. Chapters address turfgrass, soil science, fertilization, mowing, irrigation, drainage, thatch, aeration, turfgrass stress and remedies, chemical use, and organic field management. Field specifics for the various turf sports are addressed individually, as is synthetic turf. Sand fields, turf paints, field quality and, evaluation, and environmental stewardship are also discussed. 528p.

Reports on a study of the toxicity of the tire crumbs typically found in artificial turf. The study found that the concentrations of particulate matter, metals, and volatile organic compounds that make up tire crumb were below levels considered harmful. However, given the limited nature of the study (limited number of constituents monitored, sample sites, and samples taken at each site) and the wide diversity of tire crumb material, it is not possible, without additional data, to extend the results beyond the four study sites to reach more comprehensive conclusions. 123p.

Covers the planning process from the perspective of the campus master planner and the recreational sport director; the feasibility study process, how to determine whether to build new or renovate existing facilities, and how to raise capital to fund design and construction costs; the design and general planning standards for indoor and outdoor recreational facilities, aquatic centers, and climbing walls; the integration of furniture, fixtures, and equipment in the architectural design and construction processes; an overview of the architectural design and construction processes; and moving in and opening a new or newly renovated facility. 296p.

Discusses the change from synthetic chemicals for natural turf management to organic. Describes selecting the right grass, mowing, fertilizing, and organic turf management.

Widespread adherence to exacting design standards has propelled a rise in quality of U.S.-built tracks. Describes the design and construction of running tracks.

Offers tips for making decision whether to maintain athletic fields with in-house staff and equipment or hiring outside professionals. Primary considerations include time, expertise, and equipment.

Discusses current synthetic fibers for athletic fields, emphasizing curved filaments that resist flattening and have longer life. Details of how they are made and specifications that a buyer should look for are addressed.

Addresses locker room planning, advising on flooring, lockers, layout, lavatories, and ceilings.

Discusses savings available in playing field construction while the economy is in recession. Also, deciding which sports, how much use, the land conditions at the location, and the neighborhood are considered.

Advises on athletic turf care by rotating use, restraint with chemicals, overseeding of worn areas, careful record-keeping, and frequent mowing. Grooming advice for synthetic fields is included, emphasizing brushing, replacing of infill, and hardness testing.

Discusses shade structures for athletic and recreational facilities, noting attention to climate, potential vandalism, aesthetics, self-installation, water resistance or porosity, and orientation toward the sun are discussed.

Describes the environmental advantages of artificial turf fields, highlighting one instance where an entire field that had reached the end of its useful life was recycled.

Profiles three physical education facilities that were recognized in the 2010 American School and University Magazine Education Interiors Showcase. Photographs and project statistics accompany a brief description of each project.

Discusses maintenance of sport surfaces to prevent injuries and their accompanying litigation. A variety of situations that can degrade playing surfaces are addressed, as are regular inspections and preventive maintenance. Examples of injuries and the lawsuits that followed are included, and improperly designed locker rooms are cited as well.

Advises on athletic field maintenance, addressing aeration, water savings, mowing, weed control, and allowing the field to go unused during maintenance regrowth.

Discusses the environmental impact of natural grass, synthetic turf, synthetic tracks, hardwood courts, and ice sheets.

Discusses advantages of and reactions against artificial athletic turfs, which provide necessary year-round availability, but are sometimes regarded with suspicion due to the possible presence of toxins in turf, and the mistaken impression that they are not as environmentally friendly as natural turf fields.

Discusses the respective virtues of artificial and natural athletic turf, including descriptions of highly regarded fields of both types in municipal, collegiate, and professional venues. Advice on the care of both types of turf is included.