Is the Turf Tank replacing a human worker?
No. In fact, we're hiring more maintenance staff members this year than in past years.
How will the Turf Tank benefit the parks system?
Painting athletic fields across the city can be a time consuming process. The Turf Tank paints lines more precisely and in less time. While the Turf Tank autonomously paints lines, our staff can simultaneously perform other tasks like removing litter and cleaning restrooms. This will raise the level of service in our parks, allow us to get more done, and keep public spaces clean and vibrant.
It's estimated that the Turf Tank will save the department approximately $5,000 in annual labor and material costs.
How does the Turf Tank work?
The Turf Tank is GPS-enabled. Unique athletic field dimensions and line patterns are created on an app linked to the robot. We set the Turf Tank on the field, select the pattern and the Turf Tank does the rest!
When will the Turf Tank be in parks?
The Turf Tank is expected to be in athletic fields across the city in late April 2021.