OBSTACLE COURSE - COLLEGE OF THE DESERT
GENERAL INFORMATION
Building Name: Obstacle Course
Building Location: Palm Desert, California, United States
Project Type: Modernization
DESCRIPTION
The College of the Desert is a public college located in Palm Desert, California. Situated in the Palm Springs Area, the school enjoys a warm climate that allows for outdoor learning and activities year-round. Home to a close-knit community with an enrollment of 3,864 undergraduate students.
GOALS
The College of the Desert’s obstacle course is used by students, athletic teams and also the local sheriff department for field training. The school aimed to enhance its existing facilities by upgrading the natural turf to synthetic turf, and the DG track to rubberized paths. Their goals were to reduce the need for routine maintenance, ensure compliance with the new safety standards and increase the track’s usability by adding lighting around the course.
PROCESS
OVERVIEW
KYA conducted a detailed site walk to identify specific areas needing attention, provide detailed rendering and gather the necessary information to upgrade the area according to the new requirements set by the Riverside Sheriff’s Department and Correctional Deputy Academy. During this assessment, the team identified specific areas needing attention and provided the client with a detailed rendering of the proposed work. KYA was also pleased to actively collaborate with the school and incorporate their suggested modifications during the proposal process.
CONSTRUCTION
PRODUCTS AND SYSTEMS
The team began by demolishing the old natural turf field and decomposed granite (DG) track to make way for the new surfacing. Concrete was first laid out throughout the course as a base foundation for the obstacle course to stand on. Next, the synthetic turf complete with no PFAS, no microplastics and all natural infills was compacted and laid. On top, type two road base and header board was laid over a layer of safety padding with a path custom cut out for a special Beynon walking and running track. Poured-in-place (PIP) surfacing was laid in between concrete perimeters, curbs and concrete underlayment complete with rebar. The railing and other equipment remained mostly the same as before except for the addition of solar-powered light bollards to allow the track to be used safely at night. Finally, the track was completed with the addition of two logos approved by the College of the Desert and surrounded by xeriscaping foliage.
PROJECT RESULTS
The school deemed the obstacle course upgrades a significant improvement over the previous setup. “The track and turf look stunning, and we were particularly impressed with the quick turnaround,” noted the Interim Director. The course has already seen extensive use, serving not only recreational exercisers on campus but also the Riverside Sheriff’s Department and Correctional Deputy Academy for training and assessments.
