2019 Sports Installation of the Year Award: Single field under 75,000 sq. ft. category

ForeverLawn, Inc. – Meadows Soccer Complex

The Meadows Soccer Complex is a 75,420 square foot city soccer field in Tallahassee, Florida. The field is host to a large number of soccer players from both adult and youth teams. The venue hosts a variety of tournaments and events featuring traveling and local teams.

When the City of Tallahassee revamped their public soccer fields at the Meadows Soccer Complex, they had a keen focus on performance and safety. The city performed extensive research to identify the most advanced synthetic grass and infill available on the market. In working with the synthetic grass provider, they actually ended up custom designing a product that met their exact desired specifications. This resulted in a grass product that was unlike any other product available in the marketplace. 

This project represents a true partnership between the City of Tallahassee, the turf provider, and the infill provider, to create a custom solution that was not available in any existing products. Both the turf provider and the infill provider on this project are STC members. This collaboration of members is another factor that makes this project deserving of STC recognition.

The city wanted a field with superior play and responsiveness on the ball, increased safety and fall protection, added cleanliness, and static abatement. The city had experienced issues with static buildup on other synthetic grass fields, which was one of the leading factors in choosing the turf for this project. The solution that was provided met all of these requirements and more, resulting in a completely unique and innovative field.

To achieve superior play and durability, the blade height was shortened and the stitch count was increased. To maximize safety, a shock-absorbing pad was placed under the grass that covered the entire field. Cleanliness and well-being were maximized through the use of antimicrobial agents in the acrylic coated sand infill. Finally, to counteract the static problem, the turf featured an anti-static agent built into the blades that will not wash out over time but is engineered into the product for long-lasting results. With superior anti-static properties, the turf solved the problem of static buildup and shock to players, giving the city peace of mind that this would no longer be an issue at the field.

With the custom synthetic turf in hand, the team completed the installation of this field in just two weeks. The result is a beautiful community field that sets a new level of quality, safety, and durability, and is an excellent example of synthetic turf industry innovation.