Sports facility Niermannsweg in Erkrath

In cooperation with the city of Erkrath, the city of Düsseldorf planned the construction of a second synthetic turf pitch at the Niermannsweg sports facility in Erkrath. The first artificial turf on the training ground dates back to 2002 and was also planned by our office at that time.
That two municipalities jointly realize a construction project is not an everyday situation and exciting also for the planners. Since the facility is mainly used by a Düsseldorf sports club (SC Unterbach 1920 e.V.), three-quarters of the planned modernization of the sports facility was financed by the City of Düsseldorf and managed by the Sports Department of the City of Düsseldorf.

The old sports facility consisted of a large playing field with a 400-meter round running track designed as a basket arch track. The playing field and running track had a turf surface. In the eastern segment there was a long jump facility with three run-up lanes, a shot-put facility and a head ball pendulum. With the exception of the track and field facilities, the segments were constructed as grass fields. There was no paved perimeter walkway. Other than a road drain, no other visible drainage facilities were found. In connection with the destroyed and very fine-grained tennis court surface, massive puddle formation as well as obstructions and restrictions in use occurred repeatedly after rainfall due to the missing drainage facilities and the no longer functional drainage. Further in the preliminary planning and the terrain survey in the diagonal of the sports facility a height difference of approx. 1.00 meters was determined.

Conversion planning
Elevation: In order to compensate for the height difference of the existing sports facility, with the help of a digital terrain model, the playing field was raised in the direction of the club building by about 0.40 meters and lowered on the opposite side by about 0.40 meters. The resulting difference in height between the new sports facility and the terrace in front of the clubhouse was overcome with an elongated seating wall enclosing the terrace area and a ten-meter-wide, three-step staircase. With the help of the digital terrain model, it was possible to determine the optimum height with regard to the desired earth mass balance.
The step-free and handicapped-accessible access to the large playing field from the direction of the parking lot and clubhouse is provided by a ramp connected to the side with a six percent slope. All sports and playing areas within the sports facility can be accessed at ground level, allowing people with walking disabilities to use the overall facility for sports activities.
Planned Sports Areas: The reconstruction planning of the facility included the large playing field, the circular and short-distance running track, the segments, the forecourt and the perimeter paths with the vegetation areas accompanying them. On the south-west of the club building, a beach volleyball area was planned, which, however, was converted into a gymnastics area at the request of the club when the construction work began. The athletics facilities (shot put, long jump and high jump) were arranged at the eastern end of the large playing field. The round running track was replaced by a cross running track as a fin track, which takes up the different heights in the course of the terrain and offers a very varied running course, since investment and projected use were in a very unfavorable relationship to each other.
A short-distance running track made of plastic was arranged on the northern long side of the large playing field, in front of the new standing step system in the slope resulting to Millrather Weg, in order to be able to push the playing field as close as possible to the clubhouse with the terrace in front.
The following sports facilities were provided for the sports facility, taking into account the DIN standards 18035 Parts 1 to 7 applicable to planning and construction:

1 large playing field for football, field size of 100 x 64 m
3 short distance running tracks á 100 m
1 long jump facility with 2 run-up tracks
1 high jump facility
1 shot put facility
1 beach volleyball facility, field size of 16 x 8 meters (later replaced by gymnastics field)
1 cross running track with a length of 435 meters

Surfacing of the sports surfaces: The large playing field received a partially pole-filled artificial turf in accordance with DIN 18 035-7 with a pole height of 35 mm and a backfill of 20 kg sand and 4 kg new rubber granulate. Partially pile-filled artificial turf is laid floating, only the strips are glued together at the joints with a fabric tape. The system then remains securely in place due to the ballast of the infill. The artificial turf was laid on a 20 cm thick unbound base layer of 0/32 mm limestone, as well as 30 mm elastic layer of PU-bound rubber granulate.

The large playing field has a pitch size of 64 x 100 metres and was moved in a south-westerly direction. The safety distances at the front and long sides are 4.00 and 2.00 meters, respectively, in accordance with DIN 18035-1.
The artificial turf surface has the advantage over natural grass and turf surfaces that it is largely insensitive to weather, can be used more intensively and can be permanently marked. Another advantage is the significantly lower maintenance costs compared to grass pitches.
But regular maintenance is also mandatory for artificial turf pitches. Here, depending on the intensity of use of the pitch, you can assume one or two brushings a week, regular inspection of the seams, weed removal at the edges of the pitch and at least one intensive cleaning/year. Regular resanding of the corner, kick-off and penalty points and goal areas is one of the most important tasks in order to maintain the quality of an artificial turf pitch in the long term.
The construction costs of artificial turf systems are significantly higher compared to the conventional surfaces of natural grass and threshing floors. Disadvantages are the poor microclimate, the strong heating in summer (also depending on the filler material used), possible odor nuisance and possible discoloration of sports equipment and sports clothing when using non-quality-assured RCL rubber material.

The short distance running track and the run-up lanes for the jumping disciplines received a waterproof synthetic surface type D according to DIN 18035-6 with a total thickness of 13 mm, consisting of 10 mm polyurethane-bonded rubber granulate and 3 mm solid polyurethane (surface type D) on a two-layer bitumen-bonded base course 2/16 and 2/8 mm, thickness 40 mm and 25 mm.
This type of surface has proven itself in many sports surfaces as insensitive to spikes, can be used all year round in contrast to track surfaces and is highly resilient.

The synthetic surface for the run-up lanes of the jumping disciplines has a size of 36 x 18 metres. The run-up for the long jump is 35 metres and that for the high jump is 15 metres. Although the run-up lengths do not correspond to the standard dimensions of the German Athletics Association, they are perfectly adequate for school sports.

The cross running track has a length of approximately 435 meters and a clear width of 1.50 meters. It runs on the north side over the existing earth bank, so that the existing and modelled differences in height have to be overcome when running. It is edged on both sides with an edge stone. The surface consists of wood chippings on an ungeb. The surface consists of wood chippings on an unbonded base layer of natural stone gravel, which is interrupted by paved sections in the area of the access paths in front of the clubhouse.
The surface offers a pleasant, forest floor-like running feeling, is easy on the joints and can be used not only for cross-country running but also for health and recreational sports.
Barriers, ball catch fences: To protect athletes and spectators from interfering with each other, the large playing field will receive a barrier with a mesh infill parallel to the outer boundary. At the front sides 6.00 m high ball fences with rubber bearings were provided for noise insulation.
In the transition ball fence / barrier are provided on both sides in each case approx. 0.60 m wide passages at the height of the 16.00 m penalty lines.
The sports facility is completely enclosed with an existing wire mesh fence.

Training lighting system: The existing floodlight system was also completely revised. It was technically outdated and the lights in particular were to be replaced with low-glare, low-immission and energy-saving lights. A training lighting system with six masts and a total of eight floodlights was planned for the artificial turf pitch. For the illumination of the athletic facilities (jumping and throwing disciplines), an additional floodlight was mounted on the northeastern floodlight mast.
The new planar floodlights, in conjunction with the possibility of half-switching the pitch, which was already planned when the cables were laid, leads to a significant reduction in light immission in the direct vicinity as well as to significant savings in energy costs, which the club has to bear.
Further, the forecourt area of the clubhouse up to the parking lot was equipped with new path lights, which are automatically switched on and off via twilight switch and timer.
Paths, paved areas, standing steps: The paths provided within the overall facility received a water-permeable paving. On the one hand, this reduces maintenance costs and, on the other hand, prevents excessive soiling of the artificial turf and the synthetic surface. The pavement widens in front of the penalty areas of the youth line, so that the youth goals can be parked here.
The barriers are recessed in the area of these set-up areas. The perimeter path has a continuous width of 2.00 metres around the large pitch.
As the set-up areas cut into the existing embankment on the northern long side, they have been enclosed with an L-stone wall. In between, there is a four-step standing area made of prefabricated concrete elements, which offers space for approx. 340 spectators.

Drainage, infiltration: The planning provided for infiltration of the precipitation water via an underground pipe trench. The sports field area previously drained into the canal and could be completely disconnected with the construction of the Rigole.
For the drainage of the percolating surface water, drainage pipes made of PP endless pipes DN 65 were laid on the sports field areas. Any rainwater running off the surface of the playing field is collected by open drainage trough stones and drains installed at the edge of the playing field and fed to the infiltration ditch via closed pipes. Where possible, surface pavements drain directly into open turf troughs via the revitalised soil zone, with a maximum water level of 10cm.
The tubular infiltration trench consists of a seepage pack of gravel 8/32 mm encased in filter fleece. For the discharge of the rainwater drained via pipes, there is a shaft with sludge trap and calmed inflow and outflow at each end of the Rigole. For the distribution of the water within the Rigole, the shafts are connected with a full seepage pipe DN 300. The seepage packs have a width of 2.00 metres and a height of 2.20 metres, over a total length of 105.00 metres.
Planting: Along Millrather Weg, a free-growing hedge of Spiraea vanhouttei was provided as a visual screen to shield the traffic.

After a six-month construction period, the new sports facility was handed over to the club. With now two artificial turf pitches, the frequent bottlenecks in pitch occupancy are now finally a thing of the past. Although the club had to forego the construction of a circular running track, it is now pleased for the athletics department about a 100-meter short-distance running track, the new jumping area and the already well-received cross-country track.