Proposal to replace Hampton Park infield turf advances after staff presentation

Commission staff presented a proposal to replace the artificial turf in the Hampton Park infield and answered commissioners' questions about longevity, materials and installation timing.

The presenter said Hampton Park's renovation (completed around 2016) has developed concentrated wear in high-use infield areas since about 2022 and that earlier patching did not hold up. "We are now in process of working through a cooperative agreement, purchasing agreement to replace the infield," the presenter said, and noted samples of replacement materials were available to commission members.

The staff recommended FieldTurf as the likely supplier and said the team would pursue a peer review from Lloyd Engineering to confirm product selection and specifications. The presenter described options for infill, saying the department planned to use cork infill rather than sand: "We're gonna use cork. They gave us an option of using cork that has a polymer on top of it...the cork has been so successful, it hasn't moved around at all on this site" (Presenter).

Commissioners pressed on expected lifespan and heavy-use warranties. The presenter said a 9-to-10-year useful life is typical for many fields, with standard manufacturer guarantees running seven years and heavy-use zones often excluded. "If you can keep artificial turf for 10 years, that's...a really good span," the presenter said.

Staff said they are aiming to schedule installation in early August if procurement and scheduling with contractors proceed smoothly and that they would stage work to keep the grass areas and much of the site open to programming during the work.

Next steps: staff will circulate cut sheets and the installation proposal for peer review and return to the commission with progress photos and a refined timeline before contracts are finalized.