Croquet Court at Asheville’s Deerfield Retirement Community a McGill Associates’ First

Croquet, anyone?

About 100 residents and staff of Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community attended a dedication celebration for the recently upgraded croquet court at the facility. Members of the Deerfield Croquet Club, dressed in customary whites, participated in the ceremonial “first strike” of a ball at the new court.

Being a focal point of outdoor recreation at the retirement community, the old court received much wear and tear over the years and was in need of a major makeover. Residents contributed a significant portion of the $140,000 price tag, and the project was the collaborative effort of a number of local firms.

McGill Associates provided site design, permitting services, and construction inspection, while McAbee & Associates performed the site layout and surveying, and Bunnell Lammons Engineering provided the geotechnical testing. The court was constructed by Appalachian Paving and Concrete, who placed a layer of compacted and fine-graded granite fines over the existing playing surface, installed a trench drain system, and placed a perimeter concrete curb and handicap-accessible sidewalk and sitting area around the court. Heritage Synthetic Turf, Inc., installed a new, state-of-the-art playing surface, which is a complete turf system consisting of double-woven geotextile over the compacted granite fines, an ultra-base panel system, and specialized synthetic grass turf. New wickets were installed by Ed Roberts Wicket Systems and Deerfield’s staff performed necessary demolition work prior to construction, as well as the final landscaping around the renovated court. Ken Rhew, Director of Facility Services for Deerfield, served as the owner’s representative in organizing and coordinating the entire project.

McGill Associates is pleased to have been a part of this unique and exciting project, which was finished on budget and ahead of schedule.