This comprehensive project involved the construction of a new equestrian riding arena. Initially, the site was prepared through clearing and grubbing, where we removed 2 to 3 inches of topsoil and vegetation. Trees in the area were ground up in place, and the stumps were excavated and hauled off-site. The mulch produced from the grinding process was stockpiled for later use around the arena work area.
Following this, we removed an existing fence line that was in the way of the new arena. This material was carefully preserved for later reuse in the project. With the site cleared, we stripped the new arena area of all vegetation and topsoil. The removed topsoil and vegetation were then relocated close to the arena for future landscaping purposes.
The bulk excavation phase involved laying out the new arena and establishing a new centerline. We set grades to create a central crown for the arena, ensuring a 1 to 2 percent slope for effective drainage. This process involved cutting the existing ground and adding fill where necessary, with thorough compaction to ensure no soft areas were left in the dirt subgrade. After completing the bulk excavation, we fine graded the dirt subgrade using a laser grading system, which allowed for a precision of less than a half-inch.
The next phase was the installation of fence posts and kicker boards, materials for which were provided by the owner. The kicker boards, set at the base of the fence, were essential for holding in the fabric, stone dust, and sand layers. Once the dirt subgrade was fine-graded, we rolled out non-woven geotextile fabric across it, ensuring at least a one-foot overlap at all joints.
For the base layers, we placed a 3-inch-thick stone dust layer, followed by a 4-inch-thick sand layer. Both materials were compacted and fine-graded using the laser grading system, maintaining the designed crown and slope. After verifying the grade with a laser receiving rod, we recompacted the top of the base layers to ensure stability.
The final step in the project was installing the remaining fence boards and integrating the new fencing with the existing perimeter fences. This comprehensive approach ensured that every aspect of the arena construction was executed with precision, adhering to the owner’s specifications, and ensuring the functionality and aesthetics of the arena.