October 2011 - Parks & Recreation - 96

Parks & reCreatIon at Work

friends and family members, like to set
up folding chairs to get a good view of
the action; unfortunately, they may be too
close to the field for safety.
Delineate a safety zone and post signs
so spectators know where to be seated.
Consult with a builder or designer of
fields, who can make the best recommendation for the dimensions of this zone.

on the surface
NCAA, USA Lacrosse, FIFA, and more)
set forth rules concerning the length and
width of fields as well as the placement
of lines and goals. However, because
many multi-purpose fields were constructed in the spaces available to the
park district, they often do not have the
exact dimensions specified.
While these fields remain satisfactory
for play at a recreational level, park managers must ascertain they are also safe
for practical use. This means making
sure there are safe overrun areas outside
the sidelines and behind the goals. Remember that spectators, such as parents,

While there are no exact numbers, there
are more natural grass fields than synthetic turf fields in use at the park level. This
is not to say, though, that synthetic turf is
unpopular; in fact, its use is growing. Each
type has its advantages and disadvantages, and ultimately, the choice of field
comes down to a matter of personal preference, budget, resources, and situation.

Natural Grass Fields
There are two basic types of natural
grass fields: native soil and sand-based.
No matter which is used, drainage is
absolutely critical to the success of the
field. Improper drainage can render

a field not only unpleasant but unsafe.
Various mechanical systems, as well as
proper slope, can help water move away
from the playing surface.
In addition to mowing and irrigation,
maintenance includes regular walkthroughs to look for standing water, soft
areas, and more. Check for signs of insect infestation and for damage from improper use.
Ideally, natural grass areas should be
allowed to rest periodically, so that grass
can re-establish. However, those who
work to book park field events for the
city of Phoenix, Arizona, say it's not always possible to keep that schedule and
keep the fields economically productive.
The rec and parks department receives
multiple requests from the Greater Phoenix Convention and Visitors Bureau for
use of its fields.
" It's always a challenge, balancing the risk/reward for certain events, "
says Marc Garcia, the CVB's marketing director, " because the fields are
an economic generator. You're trying
to balance that with trying to maintain

field SizeS: Figure 2-1
Field Size

Min. Length

Max. Length

Min. Width

Max. Width

American Football

360 ft.

160 ft.

High School Soccer

300 ft.

360 ft.

165 ft.

225 ft.

Existing Facilities

330 ft.

360 ft.

195 ft.

240 ft.*

New Facilities

345 ft.

360 ft.

210 ft.

240 ft.*

Optimum

360 ft.

FIFA Soccer

328 ft. (100m)

360 ft. (110m)

210 ft. (64m)

High School Men's Lacrosse

330 ft. Standard

160 ft.

180 ft.

High School Women's
Lacrosse

300 ft.

360 ft.

180 ft.

NCAA Lacrosse

330 ft. Standard

IRB Rugby

393.6 ft. (120m)

Field Hockey

300 ft.

NCAA Soccer

225 ft.
246 ft. (75m)*
210 ft.

180 ft. Standard
473.32 ft. (144m)

229.6 ft. Standard
180 ft.

Note: This information is accurate at the time of publication and is provided as a convenience to the reader. The rules are constantly
under review by governing bodies and are subject to change. Please consult the latest rule book for the appropriate governing
body for the rule in place at the time of your project as well as for the complete wording of the rule. ASBA accepts no responsibility
for the use of this information
*Note: ASBA recommends that the maximum width for the ﬁeld to be place inside a running track be 240 feet.

94 Parks & Recreation O C T O B E R

2 0 1 1 w w w . N R P A . O R G

October 2011 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of October 2011 - Parks & Recreation