This week Decatur begins phase two of installing artificial turf on the south side of the Old Courthouse Square. The work’s expected to last three to four weeks and it comes at a time when the area, normally vibrant with activity, is virtually silent.
The city began this project last September with the installation of 5300 square feet of turf east of the bandstand. This project adds another 9500 square feet west of the bandstand at a cost of $68,200.
Assistant City Manager David Junger said in a recent interview the turf should last longer than 10 years.
The bandstand and surrounding lawn has been ground zero for thousands of festivalgoers, restaurant patrons, picnickers and itinerant school kids for a quarter century or more. Over that duration maintaining natural turf has proven impossible, partly because the lawn is only about 18 inches above the MARTA tunnel and the dirt won’t compact.
Junger points out artificial turf requires virtually no maintenance, watering, mowing, use of fertilizers and sustains a high tolerance to heavy foot traffic.
But there may not be much of that for weeks. From now through early November the city has scheduled 10 major festivals or gatherings either centered on or revolving around the square. That’s doesn’t count the popular series of Blue Sky Concerts, Concerts on the Square and Decatur Business Association concerts slated for May and September.
Indeed, as of now all Blue Sky Concerts and Concert on the Square dates for May, along with the May 23-24 Decatur Arts Festival, have been canceled.
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