Maryland-National Capital Parks and Planning Commission (MNCPPC) – Prince George’s County is seeking to improve maintenance practices on its sports fields in order to provide safe, agronomically sound play areas for county residents and amateur sports teams. In coordination with the University of Maryland Program for Active Learning and Sustainability (PALS), the county sought to have a “turf inventory” conducted on its “rectangle” (primarily used for soccer, football, and lacrosse) recreational sports fields. This survey involved using the Sports Field Managers Association Playing Condition Index (PCI). The PCI is compiled using data from a number of qualitative and quantitative field parameters including the following:

• Primary use, field manager experience, general field maintenance practices, and construction infrastructure (this portion of the rubric was answered by PG Parks) • Species of turfgrass and turfgrass cover • Species of weeds present and weed cover • Visual evaluation of the soil profile to 5-6” • Surface hardness measurements using the Clegg impact hammer. • Soil volumetric moisture content using a Field Scout TDR Moisture Meter. • Compaction levels measured with a Field Scout penetrometer.

The primary objective of this survey was to provide PG Parks turfgrass management staff a characterization of the fields with regards to player safety and field conditions related to agronomic practices and field usage. The intention is that the information from this survey will be used soon to allocate maintenance resources to provide safe, high quality playing fields.