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Each field spans 14 acres at a site just outside Carbondale. Polo fields must be level, but “level” at that scale is relative. A six-foot grade difference exists from one end of each field to the other, imperceptible to the eye but present in the survey data. Managing that grade while maintaining consistent playability across the entire surface required careful grading design and an engineered soil profile.

The irrigation demand is substantial. The fields require significant water input to maintain the turf quality that competition play demands. RFE designed a large-scale irrigation system drawing from on-site ponds fed by the surrounding water supply, with pump infrastructure sized to deliver water at the rate the turf program requires.

The drainage design had to solve a competing problem: the same water that keeps the grass green cannot be allowed to saturate the root zone or stand on the surface. Wet turf is unsafe for horses at speed. The solution was a custom soil mix profile combined with an underdrain system that draws excess moisture through the profile and returns it to the river — keeping the surface firm while maintaining the green, irrigated appearance the facility requires.

Barns, utilities, water systems, and septic infrastructure were also designed and permitted to support the full operational program of the property.