Page 18 - Landscape SA 103

FEATURE

Pinnacle College sports field

PINNACLE COLLEGE, LINDEN

A new sports field was constructed at Pinnacle College in Linden, Johannesburg, by FSG
Landscaping. It received a Gold Award in the 2021 SALI Awards of Excellence and was
entered in the category of Specialised Sports Construction.

arl Kruger, landscaping director Combretum trees were planted along the fertilising, top dressing and mowing. A
at the FSG Group, explains that southern and eastern sections of the field bomag steel roller was used to flatten and
Cthe school itself was an upgrade to provide shade for spectators. level the surface.
of an existing building (at the time the
Salvation Army Children’s Home) but Irrigation and maintenance Kruger says that despite the challenges
once it became the premises of Pinnacle of time constraints and other contractors
College, a sports field was required. A turf valve irrigation system was installed being on site with them, the project was
The school’s governing body decided by FSG Landscaping and irrigation water completed timeously. LSA
on a multi-purpose, natural turf field as is stored in two large rainwater tanks.
artificial turf, despite its popularity, would Photos courtesy of FSG
have been too costly. FSG maintained the sports field for three Landscaping
months after completion, undertaking
In terms of ground preparation, a
platform was initially constructed by the
civils contractor. FSG Landscaping then
ripped and loosened the top layer of the
excavated area, thereafter using a lazer
to obtain the correct levels and ensure
water runoff. A channel for this was dug
on the southern side of the field.
Before the kikuyu grass sods could be
planted, imported topsoil was applied
and lazer levelled again on the field.
Trucks were required to offload the
topsoil onto the surface but as the field
was at a lower level than the street and
entrance driveway, a grassed ramp was
built to bring the topsoil in. The grass
was laid manually by a team of 14 people,
starting from the centre of the field and
working outwards.
Kikuyu, despite its being a non-
indigenous grass species, is a popular
lawn choice as it thrives in most soils and
is hardy and drought-tolerant. When top-
dressed, it adds smoothness to the lawn
surface.
Pinnacle College sports field

16 Landscape SA • Issue 103 2021