People who participate in athletic activities at the Fairgrounds Y soon will be using new, clean turf fields.

Stephen N. Rowell, branch director for the Downtown Y, said there has been excessive wear and tear to the inside fields at the Fairgrounds Y, 585 Rand Drive, since the building originally was occupied by Ultimate Goal Family Sports Center. The Y took over the building in May 2006.

“It is at least 10 years old,” Mr. Rowell said of the playing surface. “There’s these little pellets to help have it feel like a ground, but over time they break down. It’s like a black powder residue; it’s just a byproduct of that. They constantly go through a raking process, but that adds to the breakdown.”

On Deck Sports, which has headquarters in Brockton, Mass., has been installing the new turf on the 50-by-100-foot and 185-by-8-foot indoor fields.

Mr. Rowell said the old turf has since been disposed of.

Once the installation is complete, he said, the Y’s own crew will provide finishing touches, such as striping the fields.

The project is part of the Y’s capital upgrades for the year. Mr. Rowell said the Y also is in the middle of phase two of the Fairgrounds Y’s roof replacement.

“We had a problem with the roof leaking, and last year we did a major portion so this year we did another major portion,” he said.

“It’s a significant project. It’s almost like a spray-foam insulation, and they can spray it over the metal roof there.”

Mr. Rowell said the Watertown Family YMCA has worked on a whole host of projects so far this year. Also at the Fairgrounds Y was an expansion of the gymnastics area. He said that was necessary because the Y reached a record gymnastics program enrollment of 609 children ages 2 to 18.

“In an Olympic year, the amount of people involved always is more,” he said.

At the Downtown Y, 119 Washington St., the lap pool has been drained and painted, and this week the same process will begin for the recreation pool. That Y’s aerobics room had a new floor put in.

Meanwhile, at the Carthage Y, 250 State St., a wood laminate floor replaced carpet in the group exercise room.

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