Brown University’s Lincoln Field

Type:Permeable pavement

Use: Institutional

Installer: Unknown

Designer/Developer: Unknown

Installation Date: 1994

Address: 200 Thayer St., Providence, RI 02906

Advanced Turf (ATS) was installed on Lincoln Field on Brown University’s campus in 1994. ATS consists of small pieces of polypropylene mesh, about the size of playing cards that are blended with soil and grass seed. Once the grass begins to grow the roots intertwine with the mesh and stabilizes the turf.

Lincoln Field, which is located off of Thayer Street in Providence, R.I., is a low-lying area that was subject to frequent flooding prior to the installation of the ATS. A contractor installed eight inches of the advance turf/high sand content growing medium above properly prepared base and subbase layers. This composite design (i.e. the layer of ATS/sand mix, the subbase and base) took into account the specific conditions of the site and the anticipated use, specifically occasional vehicular traffic and numerous University events.

According to Patrick Vettere, the Ground Superintendent, this area requires a lot more watering than other grass areas on campus. A few grids were visible on the surface in June 2004, but these can either be cut up by a lawn mower or melted with a flame torch. Patrick Vettere also stated that it took a while for the organic material to take hold. In hindsight, he believes that they should probably have used a little more organic material. However, overall he is very happy with how well the ATS system has worked and held up over the past ten years. Regular maintenance includes mowing, irrigation and fertilization.

Address: 200 Thayer St., Providence, RI 02906