Integrating geotextile reinforcement and erosion control at Claxton Field

Overview 

The Town of Needham, Massachusetts, recently completed a major renovation of Claxton Field, a multiuse recreation facility. The goal of the project was to improve the functionality and overall experience of the community space by reconfiguring several athletic fields, installing new site amenities, upgrading lighting and turf, and adding ADA-accessible walking paths and landscaping. 

While Claxton Field has served as a recreational facility for nearly 60 years, it was previously the location of a burn dump. Because of this, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) required that the soil beneath the field be capped and overlain by a geotextile. The geotextile was required beneath the athletic fields and other areas of the site based on the results of soil testing. 

Challenge 

Adjacent to the athletic fields is a grassy slope with a stream at the toe. During the park renovations, minor grade changes were made that steepened the slope. The design also called for significant clearing of invasive vegetation to improve the area’s environmental health and appearance. While necessary, this clearing removed existing root systems that had been holding the slope in place. The steeper profile, combined with the loss of vegetation, left the slope vulnerable to erosion and created a risk of sediment movement toward the stream. 

The project therefore required two distinct geotechnical solutions: one to reinforce and protect the capped soils beneath the athletic fields, and another to provide erosion control and slope stabilization along the stream bank. Both systems needed to deliver long-term performance while blending with the park’s intended recreational and natural character. 

Solution 

To meet the field stabilization and environmental protection requirements, MIRAFI^® RS380i high-performance geotextile was selected. This material provides tensile reinforcement, separation, confinement, and high water flow properties in a single solution. Its high modulus strength improves the long-term stability of the athletic fields and surrounding grounds by distributing loads and reducing the potential for settlement. 

An additional feature of MIRAFI RS380i is its distinct orange color, which serves as a demarcation layer. This helps clearly separate the new engineered fill from the underlying miscellaneous fill soils, ensuring that future maintenance or construction work will avoid disturbing the capped subgrade. The geotextile’s combined structural support and clear visual boundary provided both geotechnical performance and environmental protection in line with MassDEP requirements. 

For the slope stabilization and erosion control needs adjacent to the athletic fields, PROPEX^® Armormax^® was installed. PROPEX Armormax consists of a High-Performance Turf Reinforcement Mat (HPTRM) used in combination with earth anchors that lock the soil in place. This system is designed to withstand hydraulic stresses, making it effective in protecting the slope and the stream at the toe from erosion during high-flow events. 

PROPEX Armormax is also engineered to promote rapid root development, allowing the slope to be restored with vegetation that integrates naturally into the surrounding park landscape. Once vegetation is established, the HPTRM continues to provide structural reinforcement, maintaining slope stability over time. The system’s high tensile strength and resistance to non-hydraulic stresses, such as mowing equipment, ensure that the area can be safely maintained without damaging the reinforcement layer. 

Following installation, the PROPEX Armormax-protected slope was hydroseeded. This quickly established healthy vegetation, which now provides an additional layer of erosion control while restoring the site’s natural appearance. 

By combining MIRAFI RS380i under the athletic fields with PROPEX Armormax on the adjacent slope, the Claxton Field rehabilitation delivered a comprehensive geosynthetic solution. The approach addressed the environmental requirements of capping the burn dump soils, provided the necessary structural reinforcement for high-use recreational areas, and ensured long-term erosion protection for the steepened slope and stream. The result is a facility that meets community needs, complies with environmental regulations, and integrates durable geotechnical performance with sustainable landscaping.