Three female students smiling at the camera in the lunch room
FGSD 2022 Bond » Neil Armstrong MS Track, Field, Covered PE Area (2024)

Neil Armstrong MS Track, Field, Covered PE Area (2024)

After completion of track renovations last year, work also will continue on the track and field in spring to summer of 2024 to install synthetic turf. View updates below for current work.
 
Click on the completed projects section link on the right to view work done in summer 2023.

priming structural steel
aerial view 1 of steel priming work
 
Aug. 14, 2024 - Priming Steel
The steel on the covered PE structure is being primed as painting follows.
 

sandblasting steel structure
sandblasting steel structure
 
The covered PE structure is sandblasted and cleaned to smooth and prepare the steel for painting.

aerial view 1 of completed field
aerial view 2 of completed field
July 31, 2024 - Field Work Completed
(Photos 1-2) the new field is completed as striping and finishing has concluded, although minor work is still needed.
 
aerial view of covered play area structure
crew members work on covered PE structure
side view of covered PE structure
view of covered PE structure posts beside building
Covered PE Area
(Photos 3-6) crew members erected the structure over the weekend. The beams will be sandblasted to prepare for priming and painting. Photo 4 is courtesy of Five Star Builders.
 

finished field striping
finishing rock placed
smoothing out finishing rock
July 22, 2024 - Field Work
(Photos 1-3) striping is completed for the field. Crew members add and smooth out the finishing rock that outlines the track.
 
aerial view of covered play area construction
loading steel posts
concrete footings along building
concrete footings on east side
Covered PE Area
(Photos 4-7) concrete has been poured for the footings as crew members lay down steel beams and posts to prepare for the next phase of construction.
 

aerial view of covered play forms construction
crew members in trenches building forms
view of form for concrete footing
crew member constructin form along building
Covered Play Area
Crew members are constructing forms in the excavated trenches. The forms are built to hold concrete footings for the covered PE area; a pour is scheduled in a few days.
 

applying striping to field
aerial view of one end zone's striping
 
Photos 1-2
July 10, 2024 - striping is added to the field by cutting space, then applying the striping with heavy-duty glue. At one end zone, striping has been applied to line out boundaries for soccer, football and lacrosse.
adding pellets to spreader
spreading pellets on field
 
 
 
 
Photos 3-4
July 13, 2024 - after filling the spreaders with rubberized pellets, crew members drive up and down the field with the spreaders to distribute the pellets across the field. The pellets serve to provide a surface similar to natural grass, and add safety for absorbing and cushioning impacts.
aerial view of pellets during spreading
 
 
 
 
Photo 5
This aerial view shows the spread of the pellets across the field, which will be tidied up upon completion.
 

June 18, 2024

Field Work
aerial view of field
Compaction of the base layer for the field is nearly complete. Installation of the synthetic turf is expected to start next month. At the right of the track is a view of the work starting for the covered play structure.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Covered PE Area
aerial view of covered play construction
excavation for footings
In this aerial view, markings outline where the footings will be placed. These areas will be excavated to create trenches for the concrete forms. Next to the gym, excavation is already taking place.
 
 
 

aerial view of field drainage work
flat tile drainage and barrier sheets
closer view of flat tile drainage
addition of base gravel
June 12, 2024 - flat tile drainage and moisture barrier sheeting have been added over the stabilized soil. The first of two base gravel layers is being added on top. This system helps move water that soaks underneath the turf to the drainage pipes on the perimeter of the field.

aerial view of prepped field
compaction work
June 5, 2024 - the field continues to be compacted and graded after installation of drainage pipes around the perimeter and stabilization of the soil. Remaining pipe trenches will be filled to complete the system.

aerial view of field drainage work
field drainage work
May 29, 2024 - installation of drainage pipe around the perimeter of the field is complete. Areas at one end of the field receive additional stabilization. Rock overlay is added and compacted above the drainage pipes and improved areas. The drainage system and stabilization are important to ensure there is no ponding on the turf or subsidence underneath during rainy weather.
 

aerial view of trenching for drain pipes
trenching for drain pipes
May 22, 2024 - crew members begin trenching around the perimeter of the field to install drain pipes that will lead water away from the field to the storm drainage system.

aerial view of cement treatment of field
construction vehicles prepare field for cement treatment
May 14, 2024 - after excavation and grading, contractors have applied a cement aggregate (not to be mistaken with concrete) to treat the field area and stabilize the soil. The smooth, lighter-colored area has been cement-treated, with the rest of the field about to be treated. This is important so that the sub-base layer stays firm and smooth after it is compacted, preventing sags that result in puckering or ponding of the synthetic turf field overlay (see Sports Field Management article for more information).
 

aerial view of turf construction
excavation of field soil
May 7, 2024 - excavation of the former grass field is now underway to prepare for future grading and installation of the new synthetic turf field. The new field will allow all-weather use for students and, when school is not in session, community recreation as well. The track and field are currently inaccessible during construction - for your safety, please stay out of the fenced construction zone. Expected completion is by the end of August 2024.