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Advantages of prescription athletic turf

Prescription Athletic Turf provides the benefits of natural grass without the disadvantages of muddy or parched fields. The system substantially reduces maintenence, and, because the field is able to drain itself, the field can be perfectly level.

Athletes prefer grass fields over artificial turf because the natural turf is less likely to produce scrapes, bruises and "rug burns" and aggravate pre-existing knee or ankle injuries.

Never to be forgotten, finally, is the esthetic pleasure fans and athletes get from an event played on natural grass.

How prescription athletic turf works

The Prescription Athletic Turf system was developed at Purdue University by agronomy Professor Emeritus William H. Daniel in 1971 because of the need for a safe and consistent athletic playing surface. It uses an underground system of vacuums, moisture sensors and drain pipes to either drain excess water from the field or to backflow and send water to the grass roots. Under the turf is a twoply plastic sheet that seals off the field from the surrounding earth. The growing medium above the liner is largely sand, which aids in drainage.

Where to find prescription athletic turf

The system was first installed at Purdue's Ross-Ade Stadium in 1974. Since then it has been installed in such well known athletic venues as Chicago's Soldier Field, Denver's Mile High Stadium, Miami's orange Bowl and Joe Robbie Stadium, and Atlanta's Fulton County Stadium. In the Big Ten, Ohio State, Iowa and Michigan have joined Purdue in installing the Prescription Athletic Turf system.

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu


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