Edge adapter for athletic playing surface and associated method

A drainable athletic playing field comprising:

• a drainage channel having at least one sidewall defining an uppermost surface, the uppermost surface defining an upwardly facing elongate slot therein;
• an edge adapter having an upstanding portion and an elongate continuous plug portion for cooperably engaging said slot;
• and
• a surface layer formed of a moldable material applied adjacent to said upstanding portion of said edge adapter such that said upstanding portion restrains the moldable material to thereby define an edge of the surface layer once the moldable material cures.

A method of forming an athletic playing surface adjacent to a drainage channel comprising the steps of:

• forming a subsurface layer adjacent to an upper edge of the drainage channel;
• mounting an edge adapter having at least one upstanding portion to the upper edge of the drainage channel;
• applying a moldable liquid material over the subsurface layer such that the upstanding portion of the edge adapter acts as a dam and prevents the moldable material from flowing into the drainage channel;
• and
• curing the moldable material to thereby form a resilient athletic surface having an edge defined by the upstanding portion of the adapter.

A method of forming an athletic playing surface over at least a portion of a drainage channel, wherein the drainage channel has a pair of sidewalls which define an open top therebetween for receiving runoff from the athletic playing surface, the method comprising the steps of:

• placing a grate over the open top of the drainage channel;
• mounting an edge adapter having at least one upstanding portion and at least one drainage opening therein on an upper surface of the grate;
• applying a moldable material over the upper surface of the grate such that the upstanding portion of the edge adapter restrains the moldable material;
• and
• curing the moldable material to thereby form an athletic surface layer having an edge defined by the upstanding portion of the adapter over which water drains through the drainage opening in the edge adapter and into the drainage channel.