Athletic Surfaces

An example of a recreational surface we have paved is a playground or a skate park at a school or park. Sporting surfaces, however, have more exact standards than recreational surfaces. This article is more about sporting than recreational surfaces.

We have constructed and maintained hundreds of sporting surfaces, including running tracks, tennis courts, basketball courts, and skate parks. We have paved and maintained the floor of the Metrodome stadium and the Minneapolis streets for the Gran Prix auto race held annually through the 1990s. We also paved, by donation, "Miracle Field" which is an accessible baseball park in Blaine.

In general, sporting surfaces have tighter surface tolerances than any other surface we produce. Be it a tennis court, a running track, or a high speed automobile raceway, precision is critical.

In order to deliver a surface to exact standards, the sub base must be considered. All poor soils must be removed to the frost line, generally 40 to 50 inches deep in this area. The sub base must be constructed in layers with engineer-approved materials. Aggregate base layers for sport surfaces tend to be 8 to 12 inches thick. The pavement must be installed in two or more thin lifts, each lift generally 1.5 to 2 inches thick.

It is vital that athletic surfaces be properly constructed. Sub base soils vary significantly throughout the region. Therefore, specifications vary widely in different areas for paved surfaces. Maintenance can always help prolong the life of the paved surface. Sealing cracks to keep moisture out of the base and sub base is a critical maintenance procedure.