Keep Your District's Turf Performing At Its Best

Planning Ahead Now Prevents Big Costs Later

As someone who’s spent years working with K-12 schools and athletic programs across the country, I’ve seen firsthand how much a good field means to a community.  

For schools and students, it’s more than turf. It’s where teamwork is learned, pride is built, and memories are made that last long after graduation. From Friday night football to daily PE classes, your fields are one of the most visible and valuable investments your district can make. 

But that investment only lasts if it’s maintained. 

One of the biggest misconceptions I hear is that synthetic turf is “no maintenance.” Well, the truth is it’s “low maintenance,” and there’s a big difference between the two.  

I’ve seen fields that are six years old and have never once been groomed or swept. When that happens, the field surface hardens, seams loosen, and the lifespan drops drastically. You’ve essentially taken years off the field’s life and put students at risk in the process. 

When my team at MMTH performs maintenance, we’re looking at everything from infill levels to seams to overall field impact through GMAX testing. This test tells us how well a field can absorb shock, and when those numbers get too high, it means the field’s gone from a soft, safe surface to one that’s as hard as concrete. That’s when it becomes more than just lacking aesthetics, it puts your students, the ones who use the field for more than just games, in harm’s way.  

What Happens When Turf is Neglected

• Safety issues: Uneven infill or worn areas create tripping hazards. 

• Performance decline: Compacted turf doesn’t play like it should. 

• Costly repairs: Small issues become expensive if ignored. 

At MMTH, we build turf systems to last, but we also stick around to make sure they do.  

For many of our K–12 partners, that starts with an annual field evaluation and maintenance plan. We also train grounds crews on how to do their part between visits—from brushing and sweeping to adding infill where it’s needed most, like in front of soccer goals, around pitching mounds, or on the 50-yard line. 

Olathe Public Schools

At Olathe Public Schools, for example, their fields see year-round use from multiple programs. By keeping up with regular maintenance, they’ve kept every surface safe, durable, and ready for whatever the season brings. 

Our maintenance services include: 

When we install a new field, we provide a field sweeper attachment for the district to use, because maintaining a great surface shouldn’t depend on how big your staff is. 

I always tell schools: you spent the money to build something that will serve students for a decade or more. Don’t cut that short by skipping maintenance. Protect your district’s investment, and make sure every athlete, musician, and student who steps onto that field can do it safely. 

If you’re not sure where your field stands, reach out. We’ll come out for a free field evaluation and give you a clear picture of what’s needed to keep it performing at its best.