Spread over twenty seven acres in the heart of central London, Paddington Recreation Ground has an enormous range of facilities, including outdoor tennis courts, bowling green as well as a 400m athletics track. As part of the investment program, Paddington would gain a new full sized 3G artificial football pitch.
Working with the onsite management company, Sports & Leisure Management, Active Westminster consulted with ETC Sport Surfaces about the project. ETC Sport Surface has for three decades held a reputation as trusted, expert provider of sports pitch construction, installation, surfacing and maintenance works. They pride themselves on being at the forefront of technological advances in surfacing solutions including 3G surfaces, asphalt, sand and acrylic surfaces, all weather pitches, clay and artificial turf solutions and much more.
Anticipating heavy use of the pitch and wanting a surface that would be durable and perform at a professional level it was key to ensure that the right surface was chosen. It was also specified that the pitch wanted a blue surround to go with Active Westminster colour scheme and would reflect the same design of the nearby hockey pitch.
After consultation with ETC about the performance criteria the pitch needed to meet and advice about the durable and ongoing maintenance requirements, it was deemed that Playrite’s Conqueror 60 sports surface in green for the main pitch area and also in blue for the surrounding border would be the perfect solution.
With the client in need of quick installation to keep the project on schedule, both Playrite and ETC were able to work together to ensure the installation was completed on time and at the highest standard.
Delivering this installation exceeded the client’s expectations and allowed Paddington Recreation Ground to continue providing their community with access to some of the country’s best facilities and allowing them to sustain and grow their voluntary, athletic and community sports sector.
The well-presented tennis club boasts four all-weather courts, two of which are floodlit and competitive players benefit from men’s, lady’s and junior teams entered in the Huddersfield and Calderdale leagues.
In November 2016, chairman Gary Meynell contacted Playrite regarding the planned resurfacing of two courts.
After establishing the club’s unique surface requirements, Playrite recommended Grandplay and put Gary in touch with approved contractor, Surfacing Systems for its installation.
Following installation of the new courts, Playrite attached two windbreakers, emblazoned with both the club’s and Playrite’s logos, to the boundary fencing.
The club now boasts two types of surface and feedback from members is that they are delighted with the new courts and smart windbreakers, which have improved the aesthetics of the club’s entrance.
Playrite was approached by St Mary’s Primary School and tasked with replacing the school’s outdated playground with a new Playsafe surface to compliment the new play equipment installation.
The school has recently fitted a new, inclusive, nautical-themed, play area – including slides and climbing frames. Playrite’s installation of a colourful new Playsafe system provides landing protection in line with critical fall height risk.
The club is a non-profit making club which offers excellent multi-sports Facilities for Rugby, Cricket, Tennis, Hockey, Netball The facility manages both competitive and recreational sports and encourages involvement from all age groups and sectors of the community.
For several years the Club had been looking to raise funds for the development of a new Hockey facility in form of a full-size synthetic pitch.
From early 2018 Playrite had been involved in preliminary discussions relating to the synthetic surface and this process continued until spring 2020 when the club was able to finance the scheme.
Working closely with the Club and together with the appointed contractor ( Prestige Civils and Sports Ltd, Towcester) Playrite’s Tournament EL Tufted Synthetic Grass was chosen for the surface.
Tournament EL is a UK manufactured high-performance, Durable, low maintenance, synthetic surface that conforms to FIH standards for Hockey as well as being highly suited to Multi-sports.
This was very important to the club because as well as being used for competitive hockey the surface was excellent for football use and inlaid lines were provided for both sports accordingly.
Installation of the pitch over an area of 7000 square meters was undertaken during the summer of 2020 and this fantastic new facility is now being used for both competitive hockey and football during all times of day and evenings by people of all ages and abilities.
Founded in 1893, Shotley & Benfieldside Tennis Club in County Durham, is an established community tennis club with a thriving social scene, consisting of a unique indoor floodlit court and 5 additional outdoor tennis courts, all of which are artificial.
The club decided to refurbish 2 of the courts in 2020 as they were worn and in need of replacement. The positive reaction from members enjoying the new courts and the increasing influx of court usage prompted the club to consider replacing the remaining 3 courts.
Whilst the remaining 3 courts were still in a reasonable condition, they showed signs of wear & tear and had started to become unreliable in poor weather and prone to flooding. To help fund the project, members were asked to renew annual fees earlier than normal and were offered the opportunity to purchase a special 5/10 year membership. This investment allowed the club to fund the project and ensure that the work would be completed before the 2021 season began.
The club’s committee nominated a working party to investigate the market and test surfaces. Initial findings identified that Playrite’s Grandplay surface would provide the unrivaled durability and performance the club was after.
Grandplay is Playrite’s most popular tennis surface, suited for tennis players who want a faster pace. With a uniformed tuft density design to simulate a natural grass court with a positive grip underfoot, it makes it the preferred choice for many clubs.
To ensure that the surface was the right choice, the committee visited several clubs with Grandplay installed and tested the surfaces out by playing a few games of tennis. The committee had several technical discussions with Playrite to agree to some amendments to the specification to meet their needs and achieve direct equivalence with the previously installed courts.
Playrite recommended local contractors Fosse Contracts to complete the surface installation, and have partnered together on similar projects, were also able to offer a full turnkey solution that delivered an excellent all-weather playing surface.
Committee Member, Tony Pensom commented, “This was our first experience of Playrite products and people. We are delighted with both – good, honest, quality people and a great product”.
The project was completed ready for the 2021 season and members have been thrilled to experience the new courts.
While artificial grass needs a lot less care and maintenance than natural grass, grooming it regularly will help extend its life and keep it looking as natural as possible.
If you’re ready to learn more about taking care of your synthetic turf, read on for some tips.
Have the Right Equipment
Just because you’re installing artificial grass, doesn’t mean you won’t require any tools or equipment to keep your lawn looking lush. Do away with the lawn mower but retain your hose, leaf blower, and rake. Also, have a stiff brush on hand.
Most of these tools and equipment can be bought cheap, so even if you don’t already have these in your garden shed, you won’t have to spend a lot of money.
Take Care Post-Installation
Following the installation, you’re bound to see excess sand on the surface of the turf. This is normal and you only need to sweep the sand across the turf lightly to help it make its way into the infill.
Always Keep the Turf Clean
Debris, dirt, and dust can accumulate on the turf and make it look unappealing over time. As such, cleaning the turf on a regular basis is important. Use a lawn sweeper, garden vacuum, or leaf blower to clear the turf of fallen leaves and dirt.
Brush Regularly
Natural grass blades stand upright and that’s exactly how fake grass blades should stand too. Keep in mind that even the toughest synthetic grass blades will bend over time and the only way to keep your lawn looking natural is to brush it regularly.
Tending to fake grass once in three months is recommended, but if you have pets or kids playing on the turf, you might want to clean it more often.
To find out more, please contact our team today, or visit our garden surfaces page.
The school previously had a non-porous, very slippy area which was causing a hazard to students especially in wet weather. Sandringham Head of PE decided steps were needed to revitalise their sports area into something that children could enjoy and use to their full potential.
Matchplay 2 was introduced to the school and as the surface boasts so many advantages for all sports and so the decision became an easy one. ETC Sports contractors were assigned the task to turn the slippery hard-surfaced area into a fully porous artificial grassed sports area the school could be proud of and most importantly, a sports pitch that can be used all year round no matter how wet the weather.
3 years from the project’s completion, Simon Wells Managing Director at ETC Sports commented how pleased they were with the outcome. The surface is still providing the school with the same fantastic advantages as it was in the first year of installation.
The University decided that an investment was needed for their grounds and they worked closely with Playrite and MUGA UK to decide that a new multi-use surface was just what they were looking for.
Playrite liaised closely with the client along with MUGA UK’s help, to discuss the requirements. The university wanted a durable, multi sports and yet low maintenance surface; it was quickly recognised Playrite’s Matchplay 2 surface ticked all the right boxes. Matchplay 2 is extremely durable and performance proven to provide multiple sports for the students to best utilise their facility and offers minimal maintenance costs.
Neil McHugh from MUGA UK, a specialist consultant within the sports surface industry specified Playrite’s Matchplay 2 for this project; Neil has worked with Playrite on a variety of projects over the last few years.
The contract for the installation of the pitch was awarded to Midland CSB and completed early 2016 to an excellent
finished result.
Playrite have since made a follow up visit to the University and the feedback they have provided is that both students and staff are delighted with their new facility and the playing characteristics it offers. They are now considering funding a similar installation on an adjacent campus.
Playrite are thrilled with the transformation of the playing area which has provided the students somewhere to play multiple sports, in what was a refined area and is proving to be a great benefit to the University.
Hoddesdon Tennis Club provides tennis for families and individuals in the local community not only for competition but also for fun, social interaction and pure enjoyment for all ages and abilities.
As some of the courts were in need of a bit of TLC, Playrite were brought on board by Simon at ETC Sports to help with the project of resurfacing areas of the tennis club. Along with Mike Seymour, Playrite and ETC Sports worked together to select the correct surface, Grandplay was chosen as the ideal choice to bring the club back to life again.
Grandplay is Playrite’s newest addition to our tennis surface range, it simulates a natural grass court providing a positive grip underfoot which makes it the preferred choice for many tennis clubs.
Hoddesdon was completed by the end of 2016 and the club now have gained so much from the new courts, its really boosted their facilities which now all the community can come together and enjoy.
In the Spring of 2017, the school approached Playrite to discuss a proposed scheme to upgrade an existing macadam
playground of approx. 3000 Square Metres in size to a synthetic surface.
The area was to be used during regular break times throughout the school day and also for multi-sport / P.E activities including Netball, basketball, tennis, 5-aside football and general exercise. The emphasis was very much on day to day use.
As the main brief for the project was a hard wearing, durable ,low maintenance multi-sport surface, the solution offered by Playrite was our Matchplay 2 Sand-Dressed Needlepunch Carpet, which is a highly durable, UK manufactured, low maintenance surface, which was ideally suited to the criteria laid out by the schools estate management and the PE department. The high level of performance for individual sports was also a key factor in the requirement.
After discussions and regular meetings over a period of months between the school and Playrite and also our partner installer ,DuraSport Ltd, which involved site visits to similar Matchplay 2 Multi-sport installations, a decision was made in October 2017 to proceed with the installation and the Matchplay 2 Surface.
The installation involving just over 3000 Square Metres of material, with inlaid lines for sport, was completed on time by DuraSport Ltd in early January, just prior to the beginning of the 2018 School year.
The initial feedback from the school and pupils has been extremely positive, with the facility already being used daily.
With 10 years in padel court construction, PadelTech have the knowledge to apply a personal approach to installing state of the art facilities in clubs or private residences. PadelTech been involved in building padel tennis courts all over the world, forming strong partnerships with companies that want to maintain the highest-standards in this growing industry.
Springlawn, based in Perth Scotland has managed to secure the specification for Playrite’s Grandplay tufted sports surface for two new Padel courts at Thistle Lawn Tennis Club Edinburgh. PadelTech completed the groundworks and construction in conjunction with Doe Sports North.
Following the construction and installation of Playrite’s Grandplay, Ken Smith Area Sales Manager for Playrite met with Paul Ross to take a close up look at the exciting new facility at Thistle Lawn Tennis Club and to take a few minutes out to try this enjoyable racket sport.
Paul has had experiences of alternative court surfaces but insists the Playrite Grandplay is an excellent padel court surface due to the appearance and playability. Club players at Thistle LTC are delighted with the new construction of the two courts and look forward to a new competitive season.
PadelTech are keen to include Playrite Grandplay in future projects.
