Fukakita Ryokuchi Park Ball Game Plaza Ground Maintenance

Maintenance of the multi-purpose ball game plaza of the Osaka municipal Fukakita Ryokuchi Park

focused management C

Before maintenance

This is annual focused management work, which is supposed to take three days. Hopefully there will be no rain.

Overall raking

We use a special machine called a vibro-aerator, which is dragged using a large tractor. The vibro-aerator, which is fitted with iron spikes, is rotated in order to break up the hardened ground soil.

Roller compaction

The soil is then lightly compacted.

Leveling of irregularities
A steel frame is dragged over the ground to smooth out major irregularities. As the large, heavy frame is dragged over the ground, bumps are removed and depressions are filled in.

Leveling of irregularities

A rough steel mat is then dragged over the surface of the ground.

Roller compaction

The ground is compacted many times.

Leveling of irregularities

Even though the ground has been compacted, a steel mat is used to rake the surface once again. Repeated compaction, steel mat raking, and compaction results in a superior ground surface with no irregularities.

Roller compaction and leveling of irregularities

While dragging the steel frame, the operator is immediately aware of surface irregularities when he passes over them. Since the roller is not equipped with suspension, the operator immediately and directly feels surface irregularities and can therefore gain a grasp of the progress of finishing.

Surface finishing

The final step is finishing using a steel mat.

Completion

Thanks to a spell of fine days, the maintenance work was successfully completed. This time, a hard base layer and a relatively loose surface was produced.

Sprinkling of bittern

A special machine called a cyclone is used to evenly sprinkle bittern. After sprinkling, the ground becomes white as shown in the photograph. The sprinkled bittern permeates into the soil over night.

Completion

The ground looks white all over after sprinkling as shown in this photograph. The bittern permeates into the soil over night.