Pickelball and Residential Home Game Courts
A Growing Trend Towards Eco-Friendly Sustainability
The trend of enjoying vacations at home, better known as "stay-cations”, has created a growth industry in sustainable outdoor design. Landscapes Designs now include exterior rooms complete with kitchens, lap pools, and other sustainable living options that even provide custom sports fields. The choices go well beyond patios and decks with a fire pit. Stadium seating, badminton, lawn bowling courts, horseshoe pits, putting greens, and more are becoming popular.
In fact, the construction of outdoor spaces, which include sustainable playing fields, has grown into a 5.8 billion dollar industry. And according to the Professional Land Care Network, projects can boost a property's value by up to 20%. All the while increasing sustainability by lowering the homeowner's carbon footprint, conserving energy, and using fewer harmful chemicals.
Whether it's badminton, bocce, horseshoes, or putting greens, now is the perfect time to actively dream. With creative planning, a sustainable outdoor experience can be just out your back door. Here are a few of the ways and benefits to having your own sustainable field of dreams.
While natural grass is beautiful, it requires a tremendous level of upkeep to keep it looking that way at the expense of both the budget and the environment. In every aspect turf in a landscape is the single item with the highest expense in upkeep. The chemicals applied for insects and fertilizer can be dangerous to the health of both family and beloved pets. Over time they will also leach into the local groundwater. Monthly treatments create an additional maintenance cost and have another service vehicle parked in your driveway. So what can be changed and still have open green space to enjoy?
Sustainable Methods
Sustainable Xeriscaping (water-saving) principles include reducing lawn areas by using walkways connecting to “islands” of garden rooms. This will create a far more sustainable place in nature. One room or even two could be an activity area sharing a view enjoyed from another outdoor space. The key is to reduce high-maintenance grass with a more sustainable landscape design. Playing fields like putting greens, Bocce, or horseshoe pitches can be “rooms” made inside a limited amount of space.
Why not consider using artificial turf for these areas to increase sustainability. Yes, that's right, artificial turf and sustainability in the same conversation. This product has come a very long way and now provides more qualities of looking and feeling real. Companies offer many faux varieties ranging from Bermuda, St. Augustine, and more.
Minimal Upkeep
Unlike natural grass, synthetic turf means no lawnmowers. It stays green year-round without the use of chemicals so you'll save time and money here too. Sweep, squeegee, or blow off as needed and the game is on. For pet lovers, there is even specially designed turf for their needs. The environmental benefits make this choice a sustainable superstar.
Staying Power
It's costly to keep a natural playing field manicured year-round and in many locations, grass is only a seasonal option. Synthetic turf not only lasts much longer now, but it will also cost much less over the long term. Some synthetic turf manufacturers offer up to a 15-year warranty, meaning you'll enjoy your playing field for years while reducing your family's carbon footprint and budget.
Recycled Materials
Today many brands produce synthetic turf predominantly made with recycled plastic and manufactured in the United States. By repurposing, manufacturers are reducing waste in landfills. And when it's time to replace your playing field, your old turf can be recycled.
Saves Water
Every year hundreds of gallons of water are used to keep your landscape lush and green. The lawn area is the greatest consumer of water in a landscape overall. Creating just one sustainable playing field can significantly reduce your water use and your annual bill. That is the backbone principle of Xeriscaping.
This conversation is not just about a product but more about thinking about choices and alternative methods for easy and sustainable landscapes. By including home playing fields, you will have a fresh dimension for sharing healthy time with new friends and neighbors. Imagine an evening with a cookout and a round of Bocce. You can create nearly any small playing field you choose; it is all in part of sustainable living options.
With In Green Living, Joni Keefe shares nature-based design choices for urban greenspaces and Interior Design. Her interests follow Real Estate and housing, sustainable agriculture, eco-friendly building products, and the latest trends in green design. She is a published writer with horticultural design work featured in national publications, this is her newsletter.