LTC 356-2013 Flamingo Park Football FieldOFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC # 3 56 -a2v13
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TO: Mayor Matti Herrera and Member of the ' ty Commission
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manage
DATE: September 25, 2013
SUBJECT: Flamingo Park Football Field/Tra k Renovation — CoolPlay Product Update
The purpose of this Letter to Commission (LTC) is to explain reasoning for the City Administration's
decision to recommend against the use of the CoolPlay product for the turf that is being installed for the
Flamingo Park Football Field/Track Renovation.
Background
At the July 17, 2013 meeting of the City Commission, staff brought requested information to the
Commission regarding the inclusion of CoolPlay - Im, an artificial turf that purportedly provides a cooler
playing field, in the contract for CSR Heavy Construction, Inc.(CSR). Staff brought information to the
Commission meeting about this material after a request that came initially from the Sustainability
Committee. CoolPlay - Im is a product provided by FieldTurf, the company that was sub - contracted by
CSR to fabricate the artificial turf for Memorial Field at Flamingo Park. The language in the resolution for
the contract was not changed, but the motion included direction to staff to include the cooler grass and
to negotiate the best price for the product.
The project team negotiated with FieldTurf for the inclusion of CoolPlayTM in the Flamingo Football
Field/Track renovation project. As part of their due diligence, FieldTurf researched the feasibility of using
this material, a top layer of cork infill under the turf, at the site of Memorial Field. The cost to add
CoolPlayTM to the scope of work is $30,276.00.
In the letter dated September 23, 2013 (attached), Chris Wedge, the Regional Sales Manager for
FieldTurf USA, recommends against the inclusion of the CoolPlayTM product for the turf on the Flamingo
Park Memorial Field. The letter, which confirms a series of conversations that City Staff held with
FieldTurf USA personnel, cites the history of flooding associated with South Florida and offered the
professional opinion that the cork would not stay in place properly within the infill system.
Based on this conclusion, staff now recommends that CoolPlayTm not be installed, and the up- charge
not be added to the cost of this project for its,
installation. The Original FieldTurf product specified in the
design documents will suffice for field play.
Attachments:
Letter to Cc mission: July 19, 2013 — Flamingo Park Football/Track Renovation Project
Letter om IdTurf USA: September 23, 2013 — Flamingo Park FieldTurf Installation
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GD MIAMI BEAC�
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC# LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO: Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: July 19, 2013
SUBJECT: Flamingo Park Football Field /Track Renovation Project
The purpose of this Letter to Commission (LTC) is to inform the Commission that
pursuant to their directive at the April 17, 2013 City Commission meeting to negotiate the
best price to add a CoolPlay cooling system to the currently specified artificial turf for the
Flamingo Park Football Field and Track Renovation Project (Project), CIP has
negotiated and is including the CoolPlay System in the project scope.
Background
During the Commission meeting of April 17, 2013, discussion to approve the
construction contract for this Project, the Commission conveyed the City's Sustainability
Committee concerns regarding the temperature of the proposed artificial turf installation.
Members of that Committee asked that the Commission direct staff to look into the
application of a product that would keep the artificial turf cooler during play. Because of
the time sensitivity of completing this project in time for football season, the Commission
approved the construction contract with CSR Heavy Construction, Inc. (Contractor). The
motion included a directive to the Office of Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) and
Procurement Department staff to negotiate the best price for the addition of CoolPlay
system to the artificial turf. The Commission stated that they were satisfied to hear that
the CoolPlay product is offered by the same company providing the artificial turf (Field
Turf) and that the inclusion of the CoolPlay system would be an approximate additional
cost of $30,000 to the overall cost of the Flamingo Park Football Field Project. The
Contractor provided a cost proposal for adding CoolPlay to the scope of work in the
amount of $33,293.70, which has been reviewed and recommended by the engineer of
record.
The CoolPlay system consists of three (3) layer field turfs, sand and rubber infill and
replaces the top layer with granulated cork, which the manufacturer claims reduces the
temperature by 35 degrees Fahrenheit (see attached brochure). The manufacturer
claims that the system performs well after heavy rainfall and that the Parks and
Recreation Department can maintain the CoolPlay system's consistency and
performance with bi- weekly brushing.
The main consideration for using the CoolPlay system is the comfort and safety of the
football players, who will be the primary stakeholders of Memorial Field. This field will
also be sed for other games and other sports, such as soccer.
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Attachments:
Field Turf CoolPlay Product Information
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than traditional sand/rubber turf systems.
Chitting Performance
CoolPlay is cool. It's FieldTurf's
exclusive cork top dressing that
performs just like the very best FieldTurf
Elite system, found in the world's most
famous stadiums. The CoolPlay system,
delivers the same behavior and overall
stability as FieldTurf's patented layered
system. CoolPlay takes nothing away
from performance ... except the heat!
COOLPLAY Q &A
1. How does the CoolPlay system work?
The recipe for the CoolPlay system is simple. We took our patented, three - layer, sand and rubber infill
system - which has proven to offer ideal athletic performance and safety In thousands of fields around
the world - and replaced only the very top layer with high quality, granulated cork. The cork is what
delivers the heat benefit — 35 degrees Fahrenheit less than traditional sand /rubber systems in
comparative third -party lab testing. The high performance of the CoolPlay system comes from the many
layers of sand and cryogenic rubber combined with the granulated cork that forms the system's infill.
In terms of performance of the actual top layer of cork granule — the cells in each cork granule function
like microscopic air cushions, so they have excellent compression ability and resistance to compaction —
which helps contribute to proper Gmax and Shock Absorption. The CoolPlay system delivers the same
behavior and overall stability as FieidTurf's patented layered system and takes nothing away from
performance ...except the heat!
2. How did FieldTurf come to learn that a top layer of cork infill could work for sports fields?
FieldTurf started out testing all known products and components that have been touted as heat
reducers for infilled turf fields. Cork was the best of both worlds — a material proven to absorb less heat
and a shock absorbent granule. The CoolPlay system was the only combination that reduced heat while
still meeting all of FieidTurf's requirements for creating a high performance surface; and also the
requirements of sports federations at the highest levels.
FieldTurf did not Just rely on what was known — but rather, spent an entire year having the CoolPlay
system tested for heat reduction and athletic performance, both in the short -term and in the long -term,
at the FieldTurf Innovation & Performance Center, by third -party industry leaders in turf grass testing
such as Penn State's Center for Sports Surface Research and Labosport, the industry testing firm that has
certified more fields to proper performance standards than any other test institute. The results from all
three test institutes confirmed that the CoolPlay system is for real.
The research and validation did not stop there. FleidTurf R &D spent months visiting fields and talking to
clients that have owned and maintained cork infilled fields for years. The feedback was positive and the
results showed that properly weighted and sized cork infill is very durable and also shock absorbent.
The main constituent of this cork is a substance called 'Suberin' - a waxy substance found in higher
plants. It is a highly hydrophobic and a somewhat 'rubbery' material. Its main function is to prevent
water from penetrating the tissue. Cork's unique closed cell structure filled with Suberin makes it a
resilient moisture proof infill with an excellent shock absorbing capacity that delivers significant heat
reduction. Suberin is anti - microbial, anti - allergenic and will repel pests, mold and prevent cork from
rotting. Studies have shown that Suberin also gives cork fire resistant properties. Cork also won't release
any toxic gases when burnt,
3. Does your granulated cork float away when it rains?
FieldTurf has conducted extensive wind and flotation testing on the CoolPlay system and found that it
reacts quite similarly to crumb rubber. In simulated storm event testing conducted by Labosport, only a
marginal difference - 5.4% of the cork and 4.6% of the crumb rubber - was washed away. FieldTurf has
also studied the behavior of granulated cork infill on new and old fields and concluded that the behavior
is similar to crumb rubber. The key with the CoolPlay system is that the top layer of cork will be installed
in FieldTurf Elite -level systems that feature our patented drainage channels for fast and effective turf
drainage - which is critical for any /all infilled turfs.
4. How does the cork behave in windy conditions?
Aggressive wind testing was done comparing a top layer of SBR rubber with a top layer of granulated
cork— localized movement of both infills were observed. The degree of movement on the cork infill was
not considered excessive. Wind is of little to no concern to the CoolPlay infill system.
5. What is the overall movement of the cork granule like compared to other infills?
The behavior of the top layer of cork when it comes to wind, water, and "splash" is similar to crumb
rubber. FieldTurf's specially sized cork granules were developed as some of the highest density cork
material, in order to limit movement of the granules. Third -party comparative testing confirms the
similarities in performance between the two top layers of infill.
6. Is there any extra maintenance with the installation of CoolPlay?
Regular adherence to FielclTurf's maintenance guidelines will ensure that the turf fibers and infill
materials as part of the field are well taken care of. FieldTurf recommends brushing CoolPlay systems
every 2 weeks and after every heavy rainfall. Studies and observations on existing cork fields have
shown that cork doesn't move laterally as much as other infill materials during heavy rainfalls meaning
that regular brushing will help redistribute any infill that may have been displaced.
7, Will this same granulated cork be available in years to come?
The cork used in FielclTurf's CoolPlay systems comes from one of, if not the largest cork supplier in the
world. FieldTurf has access to millions of pounds every year. For 2013, there is a reserve of 50 -60 fields
with this cork material. In coming years, production of these granules will be based on the needs of our
clients.
8, What does an on -field experience tell us?
FieldTurf's CoolPlay project team visited numerous cork and other organic fields to see what the actual
"FEEL" difference is and to see if results from lab testing were justified — and they are. There is a
noticeable difference. FieldTurf encourages all interested clients to get out and walk on a CoolPlay field
to experience the heat reduction. Don't just rely on the laboratory test results — experience the
difference.
9, Who is playing on CoolPlay and what do they think of it?
Our very first CoolPlay client was the University of Maryland. They installed CoolPlay before the most
recent football season and they enjoy playing on it. The field was also used by Lacrosse and other teams
during the school year. We've monitored the field and we've been very pleased with the results, The list
of CoolPlay references is growing rapidly,
Here is what some of the Maryland staff was saying about CoolPlay;
"The new playing surface at Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium will improve student - athlete safety
through innovative FieldTurf technology, help us with recruiting and the overall brand enhancement of
our athletics program"
- Kevin Anderson - Director of Athletics
"This is an exciting time for our program. The addition of this new field will excite our entire student
body and will be invaluable when it comes to recruiting in the future."
- Randy Edsall - Head Football Coach
"Having a field that is safer for our student athletes and plays so much cooler is very important. The fact
that it will look terrific and be a great asset to Coach Edsall and I when recruiting makes it that much
better."
- John Tillman - Head Men's Lacrosse Coach
10. What's the upcharge for CoolPlay?
The added cost to the project to install CoolPlay is $0.30 /square foot, An average field is 80,000 square
feet. That translates to $24,000 extra for significant heat reduction benefits, lust think, a proper
irrigation system can cost $75,000+ and provides temporary benefits, For three times less the cost, you
can have FieldTurf CoolPlay installed,
MeIdTurf THE UU11M1AIT
51JI1Ct'tCE EXpE1
A 7arkett Sports Company
September 23, 2013
Re: Flamingo Park FieldTurf Installation
Please let this letter serve as confirmation that FieldTurf does not recommend the
CoolPlay product comprised of a top layer of cork inrll to be included as part of the
Flamingo Park turf project. This is due to the history of flooding associated. with South
Florida. With risks of ponding water and flooding, the cork will not stay in place
properly within the infill system.
We want you to be reassured that FieldTurf remains fully committed to making sure your
new surface performs optimally.
Should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Best,
Chris Wedge
Regional Sales Manager
FieldTurf USA
1231 Legendary Blvd.
Clermont Florida 34711
United States
Tel: +1352-242-7620
Email: Chris. Wedge @fteldturf.com