Converting Natural Turf to Synthetic Turf - Sports Field Transformation

Location :

Regents Park, NSW

Client :

City of Canterbury-Bankstown

Year :

2017-2018

Sector :

Synthetic turf | Soccer

Since the early 1950, Jensen Park has provided opportunities for the local community and clubs to stay active and practice their favourite sports. Prior to the recent development the facility consisted of a natural turf soccer pitch and a natural turf oval with turf cricket wickets.

First used as a soccer field by the local junior Regents Parks Soccer Club, and a cricket field by the community, a rebuild in the early 1960s turned it into a Premier Ground for football in the Bankstown LGA. Since then, it has become the home ground of the Bankstown City Lions FC and Bankstown United FC.

THE CHALLENGE

The existing natural turf soccer pitch had not been reconstructed for almost 60 years and subsequently the playing surface consisted of a poorly draining profile which readily compacted due to frequent use, meaning the pitch struggled in both the winter (water-logged surface) and summer months (reduced turf coverage due to compaction).

THE SOLUTION

To provide the soccer clubs and the community with an all-weather playing surface, Council engaged SPORTENG to undertake the detailed design and documentation for converting the natural turf playing surface to a FIFA compliant synthetic grass surface.

In addition to the conversation of the natural turf to synthetic grass, the project also included:

Two junior/futsal synthetic pitches
Upgrade of existing sports lighting
Sports lighting for junior/futsal pitches
New players shelters
Relocated grandstand to improve spectator viewing

THE RESULTS

The Jensen Park is now home to more than 6,200 players across the Bankstown District Amateur Football Association, Bankstown United Football and Bankstown City Football Club.

The synthetic turf surface installed “helps to accommodate and promote year-round sport on safe and resilient surfaces. Increased sports activity [also] helps reduce childhood obesity (which is one of the NSW Premier’s priorities) and promote well-being.”

Source: Football Facilities Newsletter – May 2019