Haven't looked into this before....

[MOWANDGO]

Hey all,
I was just wondering if any of you are doing parks, or soccer fields. I just noticed a few in my area and wondered if it was worth my while to give an estimate..I'm sure I probably couldn't maintain my normal hourly rate. Are these worth the time?

Thanks,
Jeff

[Mo Green]

Around here, I think most are maintained by the city or county that they are in, unless it is a privately owned park. But, I'm sure there is a possibility that some are maintained by private contractors.

[Elwood]

I used to mow a 20 acre city park. Good money, but be sure you know when bidding if you need to pay your employees prevailing wage. Some states you do, some you don't.

If you get into a lot of wide open areas, these mowers are the greatest thing since sliced bread!

https://www.acrease.com

[Phil Nilsson]

Hey all,
I was just wondering if any of you are doing parks, or soccer fields. I just noticed a few in my area and wondered if it was worth my while to give an estimate..I'm sure I probably couldn't maintain my normal hourly rate. Are these worth the time?

Thanks,
Jeff

Depends who bids on them ... if you have the equip to do them fast ... you'll probably survive what (might) be low pricing ...

[LLee]

A couple things to consider is that athletic turf typically has different maintenance needs and can be a problem with scheduling. I maintain a couple and they use bermuda turf with a rye overseed every winter. In July and August I have to account for an additional cut every week to keep up with the growth of the bermuda.
Also consider the extra time for moving goals and other athletic equipment out of your way. They keep about 12 (large) goals (not to mention benches, cones, pitching machines) on the fields I do during soccer which is becoming a twice a year sport here. I also do aeration more frequently for compaction which you won't be renting a walkbehind aerator to do. Fortunately for me they keep a tractor with all the implements on site that I have full access to. This helps with fertilizing as well since you'll be needing a large hopper.
The only other problem I have to account for is figuring out a time to cut as the fields are used by so many different groups at all hours that it can be tough to get out there for a couple hours to work.
Having said all that, I believe the biggest profits are the things you do to keep it green and playable. Fertilizing, aerating, overseeding etc... are why I keep these accounts.

[Elwood]

Depends who bids on them ... if you have the equip to do them fast ... you'll probably survive what (might) be low pricing ..

This too can and many times does come into play. Some younger companies will salivate over a large "marque" account like a park or athletic field and lower the price to get it. That is where the equipment and manpower to do the job is key. Tools like the acrease can give you the opportunity to have a VERY competitive price AND keep profits high. The best 60" mower they have is only $3k. You are putting hours on a $3k machine that is cutting 60" of turf and you are paying NO ONE to cut it compared to hourly wages/assoc. costs to operate a $10k machine. Two for a little over the price of one, so to speak.

On the other hand, when you get into larger accounts like this, not as many companies are geared to handle something this size, so competition, especially from lowballers is drastically reduced. Performing well on jobs like this can lead to new work from people who see you taking good care of places like this as it is great advertisement!


As for athletic fields, LLee has some great points to consider.

[boazcat]

What do you guys charge for aereating and fertilizing soccer fields? Do you come down off your usual price considering you are getting two or three yards worth of work without having to load up?