Keeping things green in the big city
FINN HydroSeeders® are contractors’ go-to solutions for quick and efficient seeding and erosion control. Ranging in tank size from 335 gallons to nearly 4,000 gallons, there is a model to fit any business. At 600-gallon capacity, the T60 HydroSeeder® is one of FINN’s smaller units, making it easy to maneuver and operate in highly congested areas, without sacrificing performance. It covers 7,200 square feet per load in a simple, one-step process using seed, fertilizer, and hydromulch. The Randall’s Island Park Alliance (RIPA) found the T60 to be their solution to a difficult challenge.
RANDALL’S ISLAND PARK
In 1992 in New York City, RIPA was founded as a public-private partnership (P3) to work on behalf of Randall’s Island Park, an island located in the East River, separated from Manhattan by the river’s main channel. RIPA works with the City of New York and local communities to provide a refreshing destination through a wide range of sports venues, cultural events, and environmental exploration. As the dedicated steward of Randall’s Island Park, the Alliance sustains, maintains, develops, and programs the Park to support the well-being of all New Yorkers. The park has developed into a 256-acre oasis in the middle of the City and is a haven of green grass, lush trees, and recreational opportunities that offer an escape from the concrete and steel of everyday city life.
In May of 2010, RIPA and the NYS Parks and Recreation Department completed the construction of over 60 athletic fields, along with a new driving range. These additional fields host a wider variety of sports, including football, lacrosse, field hockey, soccer, baseball, and softball. Randall’s Island Park also includes the world-class track and field venue, Icahn Stadium. Icahn and the surrounding area have also entertained such events as Cirque du Soleil, and the summer concert series including the Electric Zoo, Dave Matthews Band, and the Governors Ball.
MAINTAINING THE TURF
This expansion of the Park’s facilities greatly increased the amount of foot traffic on the island, which proved to be very stressful on the turf and landscape. When RIPA’s turf manager, Debbie Unger, needed a solution to keep things green and prevent erosion, she considered the purchase of a HydroSeeder to help maintain the properties. She was doubtful that any single piece of equipment would perform well enough and be versatile enough to justify the expenditure.
However, after doing some initial research, she contacted hydrograsscorp.com, the full service FINN distributor for New York City, to learn more. After speaking with Chris Bacon of hydrograsscorp.com, they agreed that the T60 would be a good unit to demonstrate for possible purchase not only because of its compact size, but it isn’t limited in the types of materials it can apply. FINN’s hydraulically-driven, mechanical paddle agitation system provides optimum slurry mixing efficiency, and its exclusive centrifugal pump design increases output and reduces maintenance costs. Bacon also demonstrated to the crew how easy the T60 is to load with its low profile, and how easy it is to operate with convenient controls at both ends of the unit.
HYDROSEEDER SOLUTION
The biggest challenge was, and continues to be, the lack of time between activities and events in which to regrow the turf. In many cases, Unger has only days, not weeks, to get things green again. A solution provided by Bacon is to aerate and lightly scarify the trodden, muddy areas and then spray a slurry that will give the “green appearance” that is desired until the seed can germinate. This slurry has the added benefit of preventing erosion and reducing further damage.
The slurry used in the demo was composed of FINN’s TRU-Wood® hydromulch, a turf blend/grass seed mix, tackifier, and fertilizer, providing excellent protection for the problem areas, leading to successful revegetation. TRU-Wood is part of the greater FINN TRU-Mulch product line. When TRU-Wood is applied, the fibers twist and lock into a protective mat for erosion control and to hold seed in place for better germination.
This demonstration led to RIPA purchasing the T60 and putting it into use in their everyday turf maintenance activities. The entire crew was excited to add this new tool to help in keeping the park looking great.
For more than 70 years, FINN has been the leader in the design and manufacture of innovative, quality equipment that gives erosion control and landscape contractors the ability to work more profitably by saving time and labor. With experienced and dedicated sales representatives along with an extensive dealer network, FINN Corporation is committed to superior customer service. ■
Special thanks for this article go to Debbie Unger of Randall’s Island Park Alliance (randallsisland.org) and Chris Bacon of hydrograsscorp.com (www.hydrograsscorp.com).
For More Information:
For more information on FINN equipment and materials, or to find a dealer near you, call 800.543.7166, or visit www.finncorp.com.
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Modern Contractor Solutions, April 2013
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