Temporary Parking Surface Solves Short-Term Problems

June, 2005

When the rains fell on opening day of the 2005 Bay Hill Invitational at Bay Hill Club & Lodge near Orlando, golf fans were saved from walking and driving through muddy and waterlogged entrances by an innovative surfacing solution called TemPark, a roll-out surface that is a water-permeable and mold-, mildew- and UV-resistant material.
The specially manufactured polypropylene geotextile geonet composite creates a clean, strong, sturdy surface while maintaining natural drainage, and does so at a cost much lower than using asphalt.
"The beauty of TemPark is there is no permitting, or retention ponds necessary," said Leslie Polivka-Adams, company marketing VP. "You grade the surface and roll it out, stripe it and you can park on it." The product is now being used in the special event industry, at outdoor sporting events, corporate events and concerts, and in tents, pedestrian walkways and any necessary dry ground cover.
Walkways allow for pedestrian traffic pathways at special events. Especially in unfavorable weather conditions, TemPark temporary walkways provide a convenient means for short travel from parking space to event.
Temporary parking areas -- usually required in rail yards and at auto production facilities before transfer and/or distribution -- are typically needed for short periods of time. Construction time and expense are critical.
Traditional parking lots, formed by covering a land area with concrete or asphalt, provide the desired hard surface but are time-consuming and expensive. And there are often complications such as moisture retention. Existing temporary solutions, such as gravel, wood chips and shredded recycled rubber tires, do not provide the desired parking surface and can lead to vehicle damage when excessive rain washes away the temporary surface and leaves a muddy quagmire.
TemPark was used for the 57-acre parking lot in Oakville, Canada to store 9,000 new vehicles. Construction on the project took 60 days. The material was heat-welded, then anchor-trenched in 100-by-400-foot panels, consisting of 14 rolls. The panels were then tensioned to minimize wrinkling, and, finally, the lot was striped.
Bay Hill tournament officials were made aware of TemPark through a recommendation from T & B Equipment, which provides spectator stands at several professional golf tours. Tournament officials were very pleased with the results.
In the past, they had used patches of an AstroTurf-type of material to cover surfaces, but they did a poor job of protecting the course and had to be destroyed after one use.
The University of Central Florida will be the next major Orlando-area client for TemPark when it will be used as a temporary lot for 385 cars near the site of its new 10,000-seat convocation center and arena.