From salinated water to healthy fields

On August 29, 2024, the Green Deal Sports Domains organized an inspiring site visit to Sportpark De Schorre in Ostend. This sports park is a pioneer in the sustainable management of sports infrastructures and was the focus of the session on water management, green maintenance and pesticide reduction. The meeting was within the Green Deal Sports Domains and brought together stakeholders to learn and discuss sustainability and climate resilience in sports domains. The event highlighted innovative solutions for water management, soil restoration and biodiversity, with several experts sharing their knowledge.

The Green Deal Sport Domains aims not only to make sport domains more sustainable, but also to promote the quality and well-being of both athletes and the surrounding natural environment. This initiative is supported by a broad coalition of partners, including government agencies such as Sport Flanders and the Flemish Environment Agency (VMM), sector organizations such as the Flemish Sports Federation (VSF) and Netwerk Lokaal Sportbeleid, and various private parties. Thanks to these collaborations, a joint strategy is being developed that allows knowledge, expertise and resources to be pooled, leading to better results for all involved. This collective commitment is essential to achieve sustainability goals and future-proof sports domains.

The fight against salinization

In Ostend, Sportpark De Schorre faces the challenge of minimizing water consumption without compromising the quality of the sports fields. The park has a supply of 8,500 m³ of water and consumes an average of 280 m³ per day, especially during the irrigation period of about 30 days per year. One of the biggest water management challenges is the salinization of groundwater. A soil survey shows that the shallow groundwater at the De Schorre site has an electrical conductivity of 8,768 +- 712 µS/cm, equivalent to brackish water and thus unsuitable for irrigation of lawns. This forces the park to use alternative water sources and technologies to keep the grass healthy while optimizing water use.

Pesticide-free sports are possible

A major highlight of the visit was the focus on pesticide reduction. Since 2009, Sportpark De Schorre has been managed completely pesticide-free. This is made possible through a combination of intensive mowing, biological fertilization and regular regeneration of the fields. The fields are mowed three times a week, keeping the grass at a minimum height of three centimeters and removing the clippings immediately. As a result, weeds are not given a chance. In addition, the fields are fertilized four times a year with a biodegradable polymer coating, and regeneration takes place annually to re-seed bare spots and sand the soil.

Every three to four years the fields are top milled to improve soil structure. Soil compaction is checked regularly with a penetrometer so that the soil can be pricked at the right time. This ensures a healthy and durable turf without the use of pesticides.

Smart water management and green maintenance

The site visit to Sportpark De Schorre showed how important it is to manage sports grounds in a sustainable and future-oriented way. The integration of smart water management solutions, green maintenance and pesticide reduction makes the park an example for other outdoor sports grounds in Flanders. Thanks to the Green Deal Sportdomeinen, this knowledge is being shared and applied to make sports grounds throughout Flanders ready for the future.