May 2001

Not much was done on the west field this month which is a healthy-looking green now. The pallets of plastic were relocated from the fenced area to underneath the west bleachers.

Construction of a keyhole-shaped driveway leading up to the building was started on the 4th. [ photo 30 - 46 kb ]The driveway was paved with asphalt, bordered with concrete curbs, and a pedestrian crosswalk painted by month's end. A small parking lot was added to the west of the driveway.

A new wire fence is being built around the entire grounds. The area between the fence and the trees has been filled in with gravel and graded, for what will likely be another parking lot. Vehicles were sometimes driven on the top of the berm to get into and out of the worksite. [ photo 31 - 46 kb ]

A paved perimeter was put around the east field and bleachers are just about completed. Some sand was added to the east field again, followed by the normal routine of grading and compacting. [ photo 32 - 44 kb ] Then, a week of high winds of up to 80 km/h stripped some of the top layer of sand resulting in very poor visibility at times. Some large white plastic-covered bundles have been placed south of the bleachers.

Did Donald Duck [ photo 33 - 39 kb ] make a surprise visit to the construction site on the 23rd?

At the end of May, much needed rain halted most of the work for two days and the east field started to turn into a shallow lake [ photo 34 - 42 kb ]. But there wasn't enough precipitation to relieve the drought.

June 2001

The white plastic rolls were distributed around the west field on the 4th. [ photo 35 - 63 kb ] Next day, it became apparent what it was: blue Mondo track surface. This is applied with a blue glue and concrete blocks are used to keep each section flat until the adhesive holds. The surface is applied to the track first, followed by the south then north endzones.

Wooden shelters were added atop the bleachers for each field. The shelters were later painted green and they have large windows that face the field. It may be for media/press personnel and equipment. The guard rails along the ramp are also painted green. Yellow flag poles are installed along the top of the ramp.

The berms surrounding each field were sprayed with grass seed. [ photo 36 - 56 kb ] Seed and fibreglass mulch in 50 pound (20 kg) bags are mixed with water and applied with a truck-top mounted water cannon or a hose for hard-to-reach spots. It took about 2 weeks before the grass growth was noticeable. Some small shrubs were put in the driveway circle and some large trees were planted just west of the driveway. [ photo 37 - 67 kb ]

The east field saw a lot of activity this month, starting with 1 foot (30 cm) deep east-west furrows being dug for installation of white plastic pipes. [ photo 38 - 62 kb ] These pipes are about 8 feet long and 6 inches in diameter (2.5 meters by 15 cm) with small holes along the length. The pipes are covered with a brown sheet of plastic or rubber mesh which is covered with gravel by a CASE 95XT skid steer loader then covered again with asphalt. A shoulder-high trench was dug along the east edge for larger diameter green plastic pipe. Next came shallow north-south lines of asphalt followed by complete asphalt coverage of the field. [ photo 39 - 62 kb ]

July 2001

The original wire fence adjacent to the trees was removed and the lower branches of each tree were pruned and mulched. The undergrowth was removed and fresh soil was added so it looks quite tidy now. [ photo 40 - 49 kb ] Stone/concrete benches added a finishing touch to the driveway circle.

Track lanes are completed painted while the field lines (for javelin, shot put) are pending. A square pit about 2 feet deep at the south end of the west field appears to be for steeplechase as the subsequent placement of a hurdle indicates. I had no idea the water jump was that deep! [ photo 41 - 62 kb ]

Three girders erected at the south end of each field were held in place with some wooden supports for a few days. Then the scoreboards were installed. Curiously, a few days later, the scoreboards were taken down and put up again. [ photo 42 - 42 kb ]

Speakers for a public address system are installed on the roof of the west field shelter as well as on the two light poles adjacent to the bleachers.

The 35 white rolls that were south of the bleachers contain the artificial turf as suspected. A grid has been painted on the asphalt of the east field to aid in placement of each strip of turf. [ photo 43 - 40 kb ] This appears to be a major challenge as there are about eight people working on it (laying it out, lining it up, sticking it down, rolling it flat) and it's done at a rate of about 1 or 2 strips a day (if it hasn't rained). After laying 2 to 3 green strips, a number of yellow pieces were placed on the asphalt that roughly mark out the goal areas and midfield. [ photo 44 - 39 kb ] It appears the green strips are placed on top of the yellow pieces.

The roadway from 116 Street to Foote Field has been re-paved. A guard monitors access to the field. Horizontal banners with the World's logo have been attached to the chain link fence on either side of the gate. A TICKETS sign adorns the building above the four windows.

Mats for pole-vault and high jump were placed and the support poles put up a few days later. The safety netting for the discus and hammer throw is also up; it is set up farther west of the field. [ photo 45 - 50 kb ]

Parking curbs line the edge north of the west field and some vehicles are parked on the sand. In spite of this, a grader, a roller and a vibrating compactor came along later in the day to presumably prepare this area for paving. Sod was laid next to the driveway entrance.

During the week of the 23rd, bus stop signs were visible and buses began transporting athletes to the facility for practice sessions. There are now two security guards at the main gate; a small hut was built to shelter them from the wind and rain. Three large vertical banners atop tall poles adorn each side of the main gate. [ photo 46 - 29 kb ]

Mid-morning and mid-afternoon are the busiest practice times. There have been javelin and hammer throwers, hurdlers, sprinters including relays, high jump and pole-vault, race walkers and even amputee runners. [ photo 47 - 52 kb ] In the tents, the athletes can get refreshments or massage therapy.

August 2001

Artificial turf laying was completed one week into August. Darker green turf was put on the sidelines. Yardage numbers are cut out of the turf with a metal stencil and replaced with white turf. [ photo 48 - 33 kb ]

A section is cut out in center field for a large letter A logo. The 'A' is in two halves and it gets the glue and roller treatment as with the other field markings. The north goalpost is installed a week after the south goalpost. [ photo 49 - 37 kb ]

The top of the berm opposite the bleachers is being dug up and graded while a football team goes about a morning practice. [ photo 50 - 44 kb ] It took one day and a dozen people (not including truck drivers) to install a concrete pad on the berm. The concrete is pumped through a thick hose from mixer trucks at the south end. [ photo 51 - 34 kb ]

A few days after the conclusion of the World's, the hurdles, tents, fence drapery and banners were removed. The security guards and their shelter are gone as well. All that remains are the steeplechase hurdles, the landing mats and the discus circle netting.

My eyes did not deceive me back in May - there really are sprinklers on the east field around the perimeter and in the middle of the field as well. [ photo 52 - 33 kb ]