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www.aerotechnews.com/ntcfortirwin 3High Desert Warrior
April 1, 2016
Your Installation
Made-over‘BlueTrack’field reopens for
PT, soccer, football
By Leslie Ozawa “The old field was very project is a virgin EPDM Photo by Leslie Ozawa, Public Affairs Office
rough and uneven,” said (ethylene propylene diene National Training Center and Fort Irwin Commander Maj. Gen. Joseph Martin and Family,
Public Affairs Office Sonia Blodgett, wife of Staff monomer) rubber which Morale Welfare and Recreation Gym and Intramural Sports Manager Judyann Martir, cut
Sgt. Joshua Blodgett, coach should stand up well to the ribbon to celebrate the re-opening of the “Blue Track” sports field here, March 14. They
Just in time for the spring for the Fort Irwin’s champi- the hot, dry weather and were joined by other leadership, directors and Soldiers of this installation.
weather, Fort Irwin’s track on soccer team. “There were weather extremes of Fort
and sports field, “Blue Track a lot of holes; sometimes Irwin, said Howie. aquifer,” Gonzales said. lines can be put on. We don’t The machine has a grass roller
Field,” at the corner of Bar- they were not even seen. We Barry Pinsky, chief of want to stain the field.” to pack down the EPDM bits
stow and Inner Loop Roads found them because some- Artificial turf technology back into the turf.
reopened March 14 after a one was injured.” has advanced over the years, recreation for Fort Irwin’s Pinsky noted that to
half-year and $1.6 million Howie noted. Family, Morale, Welfare and maintain the artificial turf To keep the field in good
renovation project. To smooth out the field, Recreation, said the field will and composite materials, a condition for years to come,
Fort Irwin job order contrac- “Years ago, when they first be used by adult and youth grooming machine will sweep Pinsky said no food, cer-
The oval field inside the tor, Infinite Energy Construc- came out with artificial turf, sports teams alike, includ- the field to turn over the small emonies, nor vehicles will be
blue track was completely tion, completely ripped out people experienced more ing soccer and flag football. bits of EPDB rubber en- allowed on the field.
gutted out to make way for some 3,000 cubic yards of sport injuries then today,” Besides the distinctive NTC meshed into the Sprint Turf,
a new foundation and a new sand, soil and rocks, replacing Howie said. “Due to changes logo midfield, the playing to simulate the “bounce” of Scheduling for organized
type of artificial turf that them with a six-inch founda- in field construction designs field has been permanently natural dirt. The grooming sports or fitness events on
replaced the grass field. tion of 3/4-inch diameter and materials, injuries have marked for soccer and flag machine will also comb out the field will be managed
rock, then overlaid it with been reduced.” football boundaries. rocks and litter, like the sand by Freedom Fitness Center.
“Two years ago, the idea a two-inch layer of 3/8-inch cleaning machines that sweep Call 380-3685/3457 for
was born to save the water we rock. The new foundation Frank Gonzales, JOC “All lines are permanent,” the sand on ocean beaches. more information.
were using to feed the grass was topped off with a new project manager for Fort said Pinsky. “No temporary
and replace it with some- type of artificial turf called Irwin’s Directorate of Public
thing commensurate with Cool Turf® that came to mar- Works, said the rock substrate
the people and the quality of ket in just the past year. has been carefully laid out
the community here,” said in a herringbone fashion to
National Training Center and “A lot of artificial turf help drain the water into the
Fort Irwin Commander Maj. facilities use crumb rubber, aquifer beneath Fort Irwin.
Gen. Joseph Martin, before rubber from recycled scrap
cutting the ribbon to reopen tires for the infill,” said Jim “When we have a tor-
the field. Howie, project manager for rential downpour, there is
the Fort Irwin Job Order a fail-safe design, where the
For users of the oval field, Contract. water is captured and sent
besides saving water, the to a storm drain, but under
renovation also brought in a The infill used on this normal precipitation, the
much needed improvement. water will percolated into the
The National Training Center logo adorns the center of the field. Photo by Leslie Ozawa, Public Affairs Office
Fort Irwin men’s and women’s flag football team players watch teammate Staff Sgt.
Cassandra Harvey catch a football thrown after the “Blue Track” sports field’s official
reopening on March 14.
For more information go to www.irwin.army.mil
