Porous Pave XLS
What is the fastest-growing sport among Americans age 50 or older? Pickleball. Combining elements of tennis, badminton, ping pong, and racquetball, pickleball is played with paddles and 3-inch diameter wiffle balls on indoor or outdoor courts that are 20 feet wide and 44 feet long. The game is easy to learn and easy to play. It is fun, good exercise, and affordable.
Three pickleball courts can fit on a regulation size (60 feet x 120 feet), square-cornered tennis court. To meet the growing demand for pickleball, many organizations are repurposing old tennis courts. They face common problems in maintaining and, when necessary, repairing or replacing their courts.
FROM TENNIS TO PICKLEBALL
A Sun RV Resorts property, Hidden Ridge RV Resort is an example of resort that converted its tennis court for pickleball. Located in Hopkins, Michigan, 25 miles south of Grand Rapids and 25 miles north of Kalamazoo, Hidden Ridge is a gated resort for guests who prefer a rustic environment while enjoying modern accommodations and deluxe amenities.
The tennis court at the resort was constructed in 2003. In order to add different sports options, and to serve more guests in the same space, the tennis court was converted in 2013 into a “SportsPlex,” which features two half courts for basketball and two regulation-size pickleball courts. Pickleball is a guest favorite.
REPLACE OR REPAIR AND RESTORE?
The tennis court was asphalt with acrylic coatings and a gravel base. In 2019, Hidden Ridge had to address the deteriorating condition of the playing surface.
“Expansion and contraction of the underlying clay soil resulted in settling and sinking of the asphalt in some areas, heaving in others, and extensive cracking,” says Brian Mingerink, resort manager, Hidden Ridge RV Resort. “We had to solve the problem before the start of this year’s summer season.”
When a tennis court is severely damaged, the conventional solution is to replace the surface. First, all the fencing is removed. Then, starting in already damaged areas of a court, contractors use an excavator to pull up large chunks of asphalt. After smashing large chunks into smaller pieces, the contractor loads and trucks the debris to an asphalt recycling center. Next, the base layer of gravel is releveled, 3 inches of new asphalt paving are installed, and new acrylic sports coatings are applied. The process can take 3 weeks. Because of the size and weight of asphalt trucks, they can damage the surrounding landscape, which then must be repaired to finish the job.
“Hidden Ridge had already replaced the court once before. It did not make sense to do that again only to have to replace it yet again down the line,” says Mingerink. “The resort wanted a more durable, long-lasting solution and needed the job done quickly.”
PERMEABLE PAVEMENT SOLUTION
Mingerink contacted Daniel Carattini, managing director, DANICA Service Group, LLC, a regional construction company. They discussed the problem, and Carattini suggested Porous Pave. The product’s XLS formulation is 100 percent recycled rubber chips mixed with a liquid binder. When the material sets up, it establishes an impact-absorbing permeable surface. The rubber content imparts sufficient flexural strength so the material has the flexibility to withstand freeze-thaw cycles without cracking.
“We had used Porous Pave XLS for the surface of the 1,200-square-foot splash pad installed adjacent to the Hidden Ridge swimming pool in 2018. It was quick and easy to install and performs well,” says Jarid Killeen, project manager, Sport Court Construction. “Instead of replacing the courts, we could restore them with a coat of the material, which would provide a more durable surface.”
Killeen and his crew first pressure washed the existing surface and used a rotary scrubber to remove debris. The cracks were repaired. His crew then mixed and applied a one-inch layer of the paving material to topcoat the court surface, which totals 7,200 square feet. The product is mixed on-site in a portable mortar mixer, shoveled from wheelbarrows, and finished with bull floats and trowels. The job took 5 days (including site preparation and putting down the court lines), and the new surface was immediately ready for play.
RESULTS AND REACTIONS
Experienced players appreciate that the rubber makes the surface non-slip and more impact absorbing and less jarring and easier on their joints than acrylic-coated asphalt.
They also say that the ball moves faster after hitting the surface, and they enjoy the quicker game as a change of pace.
“I am an avid pickleball player and play several times a week year-round,” says Matt Lamb, vice president, sales and marketing, Porous Pave, Inc. “I had the chance to play on the Hidden Ridge courts after they were recovered with our XLS formulation. I immediately felt the difference on my knees and ankles. It is a much more comfortable surface than asphalt.”
CLOSING THOUGHT
The permeable pavement has 27 percent void space, and it can drain up to 5,800 gallons of water per hour per square foot. It drains and dries quickly after rain events.
For more information
ChriPorous Pave XLS is an environmentally friendly surfacing solution. For more, visit www.porouspaveinc.com.
Modern Contractor Solutions, October 2019
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