302 PARKS 



year, experience to date has taught us that the most practical method is 

 that of reseeding the entire lawn area during the middle or latter part of 

 October, or early November, rather than to expend the labor necessary 

 to maintain a turf during the hot summer months when it is not used. 



SURFACING OF PLAY AREAS 



Most of the baseball fields, minor sports areas and children's play- 

 grounds throughout the United States have a natural soil surface that has 

 been made reasonably level by grading, if they were not already level. 

 Special types of surfacing have been developed, however, for intensively 

 used play areas, and descriptions of several types which have proved satis- 

 factory are given here. The methods of surfacing areas for a number of 

 games and sports are described in the section of this chapter relating to 

 the laying out of such areas. The natural soil conditions are an important 

 factor in determining just what surfacing should be used on playgrounds, 

 and experimentation is necessary to determine what is best for a given 

 location. Drainage and grading are primary considerations. The materials 

 used should be sufficiently porous to absorb surplus moisture, yet firm 

 enough for players to run about on without digging holes in it when it is 

 wet or raise clouds of dust when it is dry. Dust binders are used on many 

 playgrounds, among them calcium chloride, glutrin and tasscoil. Calcium 

 chloride has proved very satisfactory and is widely used on play areas 

 throughout the country. 



The following method is used in constructing playground surfaces by 

 the Department of Recreation, Detroit, Michigan. This type of surfacing 

 has also been adopted by the New York State Board of Education for 

 School Playgrounds. 



Preparation of grounds. All grass, weeds, stones, humus material, or other debris, shall be removed and fill 

 shall be made only with clean cinders. Finished grade to be as shown on plans and by engineer's stakes. 



First course. Cinders not to exceed two inches in diameter shall be spread to a depth of three inches, wet 

 and rolled with a suitable roller until no wave appears in front of roller. The finished grade of this course shall 

 parallel the finished grade of the finished course. This course shall be wet before the second course is applied. 



Second course. This course shall consist of three inches of limestone screenings and dust spread evenly over 

 the first course and shall be rolled with a suitable roller and wet between rollings until no waves appear and a 

 smooth compact surface is obtained. 



Third course. This course shall consist of one-eighth of an inch of coarse, sharp sand spread evenly over the 

 entire surface. 



Fourth course. Calcium chloride shall be spread evenly on entire surface, one and one-half pounds per 

 square yard. 



On the Chicago School Playgrounds. 



The latest specifications for grading and surfacing the children's play- 

 ground areas of the Bureau of Recreation of the Chicago Board of Educa- 

 tion are as follows (1927): 



Grading. All surfaces are concave and one 12-inch drain is installed down the center for each 10,000 square 

 feet of surface. 



