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SURVEY: Convert more city parks’ playfields from grass to turf?

September 14, 2024 1:30 pm
|      80 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

In case you haven’t seen this in District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka‘s newest newsletter:

… We’re launching a short community survey to help guide our approach to a specific investment involving our wonderful Seattle parks: playfield grass-to-turf conversions.

We have heard strong community demand for more turf playfields in our city. One issue that I’ve seen firsthand is that many parks currently have grass playfields, which can make it more difficult from an accessibility standpoint for those participating in sports. This problem is obviously worsened when the fields are wet. Our youth are often the most impacted.

I am honored to represent a district that has the second highest population of under-18 youth across all City Council Districts. Many of these kids are engaged in youth sports; others are regular users of our terrific parks and recreational facilities. As a dad of three young kids who are active in various team sports, I spend significant time in our parks as well. Note: our Seattle Parks & Recreation Department (PARKS) manages over 400 parks enjoyed daily by park users! 

Thus, we have a unique opportunity to gradually convert more of our grass playfields to turf. This effort is necessary to improve safety, help ensure year around accessibility and playability, address fairness and equity considerations (especially gender equity), and fulfill community demand for more turf fields. …

You can answer the survey here.

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80 Replies to "SURVEY: Convert more city parks' playfields from grass to turf?"

  • Al King September 14, 2024 (2:00 pm)

    What are the short term and long terms costs associated with turf vs grass? 

    • My two cents September 14, 2024 (6:24 pm)

      Al King – define costs.  Dollars? Unknown/undetermined health risk of turf versus grass maintenance? Number of days available?

      • Al King September 15, 2024 (2:03 pm)

        Defined as: initial installation cost in $ for grass vs $ for turf and life of service costs before replacement is necessary. 

  • Thomas September 14, 2024 (2:28 pm)

    But aren’t turf fields actually less safe? Pro athletes definitely do not prefer to play on turf. I wish we weren’t trying to replace grass with plastic and fake dirt. 

    • Seattlite September 14, 2024 (4:21 pm)

      Thomas…This link highlights a study published in 2019 in the, “American Journal of Sports Medicine,” that found more foot and leg injuries occur on turf.  Why would anyone risk their child’s chances of getting injured on turf when a grass field is more viable, safer in not increasing the risk of sports injuries?  Perhaps, Mr. Saka should read this article.https://www.capillaryflow.com/reports/examining-the-turf-safety-injuries-and-legal-implications-in-the-debate-between-natural-grass-and-artificial-turf-for-sports-surfaces  

    • Reed September 14, 2024 (6:15 pm)

      The grass fields around here are all less safe than turf because off leash dogs tear them up, creating leg breaking bomb holes.

      • Seattlite September 14, 2024 (8:46 pm)

        Which grass fields have unleashed dogs digging holes?

        • ACG September 14, 2024 (10:08 pm)

          The field in Lincoln Park (used for soccer, ultimate frisbee, etc), the field at Fairmount elementary for soccer, and the soccer fields at Riverview to name three that quickly popped in my mind. 

        • SoccerDad September 15, 2024 (12:07 am)

          All of the grass fields have issues that can lead to injury. Riverside, E.C. Hughes, Lincoln Park,  Fairmount Park, and the list goes on. Maintenance is a huge task for SPR and is woefully underfunded and staffed. Simply mowing a field is hard let alone filling in holes. Turf especially, the new product with cork as seen at Delridge playfield, is soo much better. I don’t doubt the injury rate on turf but you can’t compare the two in West Seattle. 

          • Both sides September 16, 2024 (12:18 am)

            You can’t have it both ways by saying natural grass is too much maintenance for the agency to handle. But you think artificial turf isn’t. Who’s going to pick up any debris that accumulates and needs to be manually cleared because it can’t degrade through plastic? You’ll offer?

        • JustSarah September 15, 2024 (8:20 am)

          All of them. People use them as off-leash areas for fetch, specifically, so the dogs race around and launch from sitting positions, literally tearing up the ground. Especially with bigger dogs you can actually see the clumps fly when the dogs take off to chase a ball. This (and poop, of course) is exactly why dogs aren’t allowed on the fields. 

        • Curtis September 15, 2024 (8:20 am)

          An easier question would be, which ones don’t?

          • JustSarah September 15, 2024 (3:15 pm)

            Actually, that’s a harder question because I can’t think of any… :-)

        • Not_A_Hater September 16, 2024 (5:44 pm)

          Fairmont park is the worst.  Holes are repaired multiple times every soccer season.  I have watched people at Highland let their unleashed dogs dig holes and crap while the kids are arriving to the field, and ignore coach pleas to pick up after their pet.  

      • Professor Professorson September 14, 2024 (9:15 pm)

        Well that’s some sound science right there!

    • JW September 14, 2024 (8:28 pm)

      It might be true that a well-maintained grass field is slightly safer than turf, but that refers to grass maintained at the level of a division 1 or professional field.  The new varieties of turf out there are much safer than the average city park grass field with mud puddles and rodent holes.  I play adult soccer about 100 nights a year in Seattle, and I love playing on turf fields, especially in the rainy winter months.

      • Sunrise Heights September 15, 2024 (3:52 pm)

        I think off-leash dogs is a bit of a distraction here. Grass fields, dogs or no dogs, will degrade quickly once you combine heavy rain and lots of running around with cleats. I’m not arguing over whether or not people should let their dogs on fields. Just saying that they will get torn up and turned into uneven mud pits with dangerous holes regardless. As others have pointed out, the city doesn’t have the resources to keep that from happening. 

  • Niko September 14, 2024 (2:52 pm)

    Saka always focused on the big issues 🙄

    • JustSarah September 14, 2024 (3:23 pm)

      I am not much of a Saka fan, but I really appreciate the effort to improve something specifically for kids. Several of my neighbors and I were really disappointed when NIMBY activism blocked the new pickleball courts in Lincoln Park, as they would have offered a free outdoor activity for all ages, but especially our tweens and teens. My son loves practicing his soccer skills, but finds the LP fields inadequate. I’m grateful for a recreational initiative and responded to the survey. 

    • Curtis September 15, 2024 (8:22 am)

      I guess children are not a big issue for you?  What is more relevant to constituents than our children, and public parks?

  • Kyle September 14, 2024 (2:59 pm)

    I mean, I can thing of many more pressing things than turf vs. grass…but if we are going to focus on Parks…please just open and stock the bathrooms year round for the dignity of all.

    • Person September 14, 2024 (3:04 pm)

      Yes!

    • JustSarah September 14, 2024 (3:24 pm)

      And yes to this. Please keep the restrooms open (yes, I’ve written to Parks about this). 

      • Kp September 16, 2024 (2:02 pm)

        The parks can’t afford signs warning of the fire danger in the hot summer time and “no smoking” which is one of their “rules” – what makes you think they could afford the no sex in the bathrooms at all hours of the day

    • Luke September 14, 2024 (3:34 pm)

      ^^^^^ Agreed!

  • Person September 14, 2024 (3:02 pm)

    Some of my fondest memories are of playing on muddy soccer fields and watching my kids do the same!

  • Huuuuu September 14, 2024 (3:03 pm)

    I hope this will be quickly followed with a plan to plasticize the inefficient wooden trees.

    • nothend September 14, 2024 (5:10 pm)

       Surround the new astroturf with 26 foot tall plastic palm trees. 

  • JustSarah September 14, 2024 (3:13 pm)

    My family would be happy if the fields at Lincoln Park were leveled and the grass maintained, and ideally some smaller goals available. My son and friends love doing soccer drills and they can walk to LP, but the fields and equipment aren’t sufficient, so we end up driving to Hughes, Hundley, SWAC… 

    • fionap September 16, 2024 (8:51 am)

      Exactly.  I’m going to hit up Saka with the idea of developing half fields, grass or turf, so that there can be way better use of the fields we have.  Lincoln Park has a couple of opportunities for half fields in addition to the full size fields, without claiming any new space.  Can’t speak to the equipment, but we can start with the fields.  Please consider joining me in advocating for these!

      • JustSarah September 16, 2024 (9:39 am)

        Fionap, I’m on board. This is all serendipitous timing, because I was just talking to my son about the LP fields last week, encouraging him to write to Saka and Parks about the inadequate conditions. Our soccer team is using 1/3 of one of the E.C. Hughes fields for practice this season, which is a tiny amount of space. Meanwhile, LP fields are empty, which is ridiculous given the size. 

        • JustSarah September 16, 2024 (9:49 am)

          To be clear, our team is middle schoolers… So 1/3 of a Hughes field is absolutely insufficient. It would be perfect for early elementary kids. 

  • Seattle Parks on the losing end ONCE AGAIN September 14, 2024 (3:15 pm)

    That’s what happens when you bring someone who doesn’t care about anything. AP Diaz 👎Let me just remind everyone AP approved the plan to build a kids park by what is considered a nude beach.

    1. How about add natural features instead of pumping the parks with FOREVER CHEMICALS AND MICROPLASTICS!
    3. Add – dog runs
    4. – community gardens
    5. – bee hives
    6. – pollinator raised beds
    7. – outdoor exercise features
    8. – gated off leash pet areas
    9. – ponds
    10. – legacy planting learning areas
    11. – pedal powered trains/carts that people can ride around a fixed track
    12. – compost garden
    13. – zipline

    Waiting for people to call me a nimby yet again for being on the right side of history by not wanting to take a chance with long term health consequences that include I don’t know, cancer? 

  • Crick September 14, 2024 (3:26 pm)

    Converting grass to green to turf increases the urban heat islands effect, increases risk of non-contact sport injuries, and reduces people’s access to green space. 

    Please do NOT convert our green space to fake, plastic turf. This survey needs an option to, “Not convert grass to turf”.

    Please contact Rob Saka by emailing Rob.Saka@seattle.gov or by calling his office at 206-684-880

    • Frog September 14, 2024 (5:34 pm)

      West Seattle needs more practice and game fields.  The parks dept. can’t maintain grass and doesn’t even try most of the time.  Lumpy and un-mowed grass is not safe for young athletes. Every grass field in West Seattle is also used with impunity as an off-leash dog park.  A couple more turf fields would be a great idea.  The impact on heat and green space is minimal.  Newly installed fields are also much better than the first generation — they no longer use crumb rubber or lacerating grass.  Walt Hundley urgently needs a replacement.

      • JustSarah September 14, 2024 (5:58 pm)

        Exactly. I’m happy with grass but it needs to be maintained, including aerating to retain permeability (mud pits happen because of compacted soil) and filling the holes. Dogs definitely make it worse and, as you said, the fields are often used as de facto off-leash areas; funny, since dogs specifically are barred from fields. But there’s no enforcement, so people continue to use them freely.

      • Crick September 14, 2024 (6:25 pm)

        Replacing grass with turf is a 100% loss of green space for that area. The city of Seattle and King County have identified urban heat Islands as major threat to health and welfare of the population and the County’s Land Conservation Initiative identifies permanent protection of urban green space as a critical component of reducing that threat. 

        Artificial turf can be nearly 40 degrees hotter than natural turf, that’s significant.

        Turf also increases runoff and GH gas production, it reduces natural transpiration and storm water infiltration.

        Artificial turf costs millions to install and once built need to be replaced every 10-12 years. They are a money pit and the community would be better off spending that money just maintaining the grass.Kids can handle some mud on their cleats. Once green space is gone, it’s gone. 

        • Frog September 14, 2024 (8:55 pm)

          Do you have children, or only links?  I can’t speak for baseball (disappearing sport), but for kid soccer, the hot season is the off-season.  I have personally played on turf fields in West Seattle in all seasons, and they are not 40 degrees hotter, even in the hot season.  Kid soccer practice is almost always 5:00 pm or later all times of year.  Soccer practice above age 11 is always turf fields (even for the rec league, which cant afford to rent fields and just squats), and the kids are fine.  We have turf fields at Delridge, Hiawatha, Madison MS, Walt Hundley, SWAC, Steve Cox, Evergreen HS, Valley Ridge, North Seatac, Glacier MS, Mosier Park, and probably others, and no crisis has occurred.  Quite the opposite — those fields are all solidly booked, full of kids who are not on their phones, not playing Fortnight, exercising something other than their thumbs.  It’s one of the few things our society does right.  And not just kid sports, but adult leagues, ladies rugby, you would be amazed.  Go out there some time and see for yourself.  No one who uses the fields is complaining (except about the crumb rubber, which is steadily being replaced).  Grass is impossible to maintain in this climate unless we had 200% capacity and could keep half the fields closed at any given time.  We don’t.  More turf fields would be a benefit.

          • Crick September 15, 2024 (7:25 am)

            No Frog, we couldn’t have kids, so thanks for that painful dig and trying to dunk on me for substantiating my positions with evidence. In fact most Seattleites don’t have kids. But I do use one of these grass fields on an almost daily basis, because we also can’t afford a house with a yard and it’s nice to connect with the earth through something other than concrete and plastic.

          • Evan September 15, 2024 (11:06 am)

            The fact is, parents/guardians of kids who use these fields are the best judges of their condition. 

          • JustSarah September 15, 2024 (8:33 am)

            Here’s my kid’s soccer team a couple years ago after a game at Fairmount Park. Players’ cleats were getting stuck and pulled off by the mud. The ball would barely travel. The kids took it in stride, but were so frustrated because they couldn’t play a real game. 

          • junctioneer September 15, 2024 (10:09 pm)

            Oddly, West Seattle has a big baseball community. And as a primarily spring sport, it definitely suffers from rain cancellations on non turf fields. Some fields are notably worse than others. The worst are folks who feel entitled to let their dogs run through wet fields and ruin it for everyone else.

      • Derrick September 14, 2024 (6:41 pm)

        Turf is not a magic surface that requires no maintenance. You have to vacuum the surface to get rid of the leaves, sticks that fall since they can’t biodegrade. The seeds that germinate can’t be mowed so weeds have to be hand pulled. This is a terrible idea. 

  • Nwe September 14, 2024 (3:33 pm)

    Aren’t we supposed to be doing everything we can to keep things cool and offer respite places from the heat? Turf is hot and smelly – let’s plant some trees and let kids play in the grass and mud. 

    • JustSarah September 14, 2024 (6:02 pm)

      I’m not saying we should have turf; I’m perfectly happy with grass. But sports provide a valuable role for our kids, and mud pits are not a fun part of that. Actually, they can make conditions so poor that games need to be cancelled. Please don’t trivialize the importance of a good playfield. We don’t have a lot of them. 

      • Ulti September 15, 2024 (11:46 am)

        Let’s not trivialize permanently replacing our parks with plastic so kids don’t get dirty for a few weeks a year. Parks are for everyone, not just children’s sports.

        • JustSarah September 15, 2024 (12:01 pm)

          The sports fields in the parks are literally for sports. No one is trying to literally replace all park lands with turf. 

  • K September 14, 2024 (3:51 pm)

    I’m super confused about his comments regarding accessibility, particularly because he seems most worried about “accessibility for those playing sports”.  Grass is a problem for wheelchairs and many mobility devices.  Many turf options create similar challenges, except the lowest pile options, which often wear faster with regular use in sports.  If he wants to make Parks facilities more accessible, turf seems like an odd place to start.  How about we start with finding more solid surface options to replace all those wood chips on the playgrounds?

  • Derrick September 14, 2024 (4:24 pm)

    This seems to be a terrible idea, and I am not convinced this actually adds benefit to those with mobility challenges.  If mobility expansion is the goal, more inclusive pathways would be a much better alternative.Turf does not allow easy biodegrading of the leaves that fall and will require vacuuming, special raking. Windborn seeds will still land on the turf and germinate, but you can’t just mow them down so hand weeding will be required. All this adds significant labor cost. Where will dog poop (an unfortunate reality that not everybody cleans up after their dog), bird poop go when there is no ecosystem to biodegrade this?Further,  synthetic turf contains flammable chemicals – to combat this fire retardant must be added exposing our kids to significant chemicals.  These microplastics that will be broken down and washed into our watershed will cause damage to our fragile aquatic ecosystem. The turf will not absorb water like natural grass, so we will have irrigation challenges and increased run off further carrying toxins into the water. Turf also gets very hot in the summer and we risk burns to little feet. This is a TERRIBLE idea for so many reasons. Just no. 

    • Bernadette September 14, 2024 (5:23 pm)

      Totally agree. Alternative (plastic) turf is terrible for the environment and detrimental to our children’s health. Do our leaders not research any of this beforehand?

  • Connie Wonnie September 14, 2024 (4:31 pm)

    16% more injuries per play on artificial turf.turf is a petroleum product that uses forever chemicals. when it breaks down–which is significant on a year to year basis–guess where all those chemicals and microplastics go. right! everywhere–even in you and the children who play on them.  And our water. Poor us and water and soil.turf can get 69 degrees hotter than grass under the right weather conditions. heat stroke anyone?please research the science–it’s worse than you think. but don’t use google–it hides anything that doesn’t make it money.93% of NFL players prefer grass! “It’s not rocket science!”Many are allergic to the chemicals in turf.So what is this grand opportunity of which you speak (from someone you know)? Kidding, that sounded snotty and I like you Bob Saka. But really, who suggested this?So much more to say, but this is plenty for now.

  • Admiral-2009 September 14, 2024 (5:30 pm)

    Crick agreed another annoying survey that lacked a basic feedback item:  do not replace natural turf with artificial turf!

  • Rob September 14, 2024 (5:35 pm)

    I coached for several years for the westseattle girls softball.  It was always disappointing not being able to practice or play games after a night of rain. The fields were always a muddy mess. To many practices an games canceled. Turf would e d this problem. 

    • K September 14, 2024 (8:30 pm)

      You can address muddiness and puddles by changing soil composition too.  

  • KM September 14, 2024 (5:47 pm)

    This idea stinks for all the reason stated above.

  • Matt September 14, 2024 (7:29 pm)

    I just replied to the survey answering no field needs to be updated to turf and requested they stop installing turf. Turf is a synthetic material to exacerbates heat island effect, contaminates runoff, introduces microplastics and synthetic materials into our environment, and worsens habitat destruction. I cannot even fathom how we pretend to be a leading city in sustainability but install plastic grass in our parks. Talk about cognitive dissonance. 

  • A September 14, 2024 (7:57 pm)

    A quick search on the google:https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/mar/10/phillies-ball-players-cancer-artifical-turfThe European Union Ban on Microplastics Includes Artificial Turf Crumb Rubber Infill: Other Nations Should Follow Suit | Environmental Science & Technology.Feb 1, 2024The EPA concluded that exposure to PFAS may lead to reproductive effects, developmental delays and risks of some cancers. Exposure can happen through inhalation, ingestion, skin contact and mucous membrane exposure, including microplastic dust kicked up on artificial turf fields.Jun 29, 2024I say keep the grass, keep it level, maintain it and protect it from being an off leash dog area. Designated off leash dog areas are ideal. Kids can handle mud and rain. If it needs to be perfect  for a child maybe move to an indoor sport, swimming, ice hockey, beach volleyball and or solid surface sports. There are so many sports to choose from. I don’t think Seattle needs anymore artificial anything.

    • Jethro Marx September 14, 2024 (9:01 pm)

      Many of the comments here look and read like they were written by tin hat types. I have not read any comments by people who have played on our grass fields saying no to turf. Yes it’s a bit gross, and hot in the summer. Unfortunately our climate makes grass both incredibly expensive to maintain and literally unplayable for most of the year. Budget realities mean grass gets lumpy and dangerous. The studies that show grass being safer are not looking at fields like our parks. Newer fields use natural cork instead of crumb rubber. Stop using dubious scientific claims to claim the moral high ground.

    • Neighbor 2 September 15, 2024 (11:49 am)

      LOL. Yeah, turf is bad, so if you don’t like playing on lumpy pitted grass, do indoor sports. That’s your solution? Because turf inside is better for health than outside? “Solid surfaces” outside (asphalt) are better for our health than turf? Can’t stop laughing at your joke of a response. 

    • JP September 15, 2024 (11:58 am)

      “If it needs to be perfect  for a child maybe move to an indoor sport, swimming, ice hockey, beach volleyball”

      Ah yes, the famously accessible sports of swimming and ice hockey. Known for being affordable, and we have so many ice rinks and indoor pools in West Seattle. 

      Beach volleyball, of course, is very suited to Seattle’s climate during the school year. Get out of here with these “helpful” suggestions.

  • matt September 14, 2024 (8:57 pm)

    The alternative isn’t turf or grass, it is turf or mud, sand, Centrex (remember that stuff?), unmowed grass with holes.  I’d rather play on turf any day. 

  • Citizen Joe September 15, 2024 (12:57 am)

    Terrible idea. Invest more in grass management, not plastic and petroleum product in our parks.

  • Bob September 15, 2024 (4:35 am)

    Coming from a person who played 10 years of soccer in West Seattle from spring soccer as a young kid to highschool soccer as a teenager I prefer dirt over turf. Turf is fun for indoor soccer where the field is smaller and you can bounce the ball off the wall. Nothing bets playing soccer in the pouring down rain on a dirt field. You feel so alive. Two fields of turf is enough. If you want to spend money keep the bathrooms open year round and fix the water faucets so they are frost free spikots so we can water are dogs during the winter.

  • Meeee September 15, 2024 (6:35 am)

    Oh yay!More plastics in the neighborhood.Also the “survey” doesn’t even give the option to say you don’t want the replacement.

  • Ulti September 15, 2024 (8:05 am)

    Replacing grass with plastic is the opposite of what we need to be doing. This is a horrible idea. 

  • CW September 15, 2024 (8:20 am)

    Turf is a terrible idea! If the city doesn’t maintain grass, what makes you think they’ll maintain turf? And who needs more plastic?I encourage you to go to the turf playfield at Anderson Park in Capitol Hill sometime and watch irresponsible dog owners have their dogs pee and poop on it. I wouldn’t let my child play there! Let’s show some commitment and fund the city’s parks department so they can hire folks to maintain the parks at the appropriate level. Yes, that means paying taxes. Or get your child’s team families together and do it yourself (parks will probably have a fit though).

    • JustSarah September 15, 2024 (10:19 am)

      The dogs are peeing and pooping on all the fields, it’s just easier to see on turf. 

  • Darn Survey September 15, 2024 (4:41 pm)

    And this is why the Seattle process of seeking community input is exhausting. Is Saka hadn’t sent this survey and had just moved forward with what’s obviously the right choice (more turf sport fields) very little opposition would come up. In the past two years turf has gone in at Madison, Hiawatha, and Delridge fields. But since he reached out, he’s now going to be flooded with opposition from all these people who obviously DO NOT have kids trying to use the awful grass fields. Thanks, “community”! Hope you’re so proud. 

    • Ulti September 16, 2024 (7:19 am)

      As if being a parent is the only thing that should qualify someone to have an opinion or be a member of the community. Obviously lots of your neighbors disagree with you. 

      • JustSarah September 16, 2024 (10:07 am)

        My take is if you/your family don’t use the fields (for sports, not as a personal dog run), your opinion doesn’t matter as much. As I said to you up-thread, these fields are specifically for sports. Because yes, parks are for all. 

    • fionap September 16, 2024 (8:18 am)

      Hmmm, Delridge and Hiawatha have been turf for much much longer, were renovated in the last two years.  Madison is the only grass to turf conversion in ages.

  • fionap September 16, 2024 (8:38 am)

    Ultimate Frisbee scheduler here.  I can barely get fields for our Fall high school teams, so generally we play games on turf and practice on grass/mud. 
    There are some grass fields that are unfit for playing on after October 1st, but because there is so much demand for fields, WS keeps using them and using them hard.  There is no way for some of these fields to recover after hundreds of 6 year old soccer players run around in the mud for 8 hours on a Saturday.
    I do think most of the fields should remain grass and be rehabbed so they drain better, are graded, and lined.  More flexibility in how they can be used would help too.  But we do need a few more turf fields, if just to have the option to use them year round. 
    Also, having lights is a huge deal, it extends the amount of time we can use the field by FIVE hours everyday, which would be a boon for youth sports in WS.  We play outdoors in the Winter (because Ultimate Players do that) and we have to use lighted fields because its after school. And if you light it, you should turf it, its too big an investment not to.
    Its unfortunate that this survey is so vague.  Many of the fields in this survey have turf, so knowing where new fields would be added would help me to answer.  Is there room?  Is there parking? Will there be lights?  How about making some little kid fields, so that the big kids can have the big fields? It pains me to see a 5 year old soccer practice of 12 kids on any field that I could put 40 high school kids on for practice. 
    Will lacrosse and ultimate get an opportunity to use them? Will there be some sort of balancing of the sports?  It is extremely hard to grow a club sport when you can’t get decent fields in your neighborhood because one sport monopolizes the field use.

  • fionap September 16, 2024 (8:44 am)

    @robsaka how about some decent half sized fields, turf or grass, and moving the under-10 yr old set to those?  There are lots of opportunities for half fields all over the city, level and line those.  I bet everyone, including non youth sports, would appreciate that.  Having a small team of 6 year olds on a field that I can put 40 high school kids is really frustrating, and we need it full length.   Then you can ensure that a certain percentage of the fields are permitted to the “other” sports.

  • YellowPup September 16, 2024 (8:51 am)

    This newsletter has Team Saka’s overview of the initiative:https://us12.campaign-archive.com/?e=429b2d4e8d&u=11a79978ca7225050bfabf7ad&id=defd4427ee Behind all the framing and posturing, it sounds like a matter of controlling cost and management, and delivering consistency across facilities. From what research I can find casually, it looks like there is a range of opinion on the impact of astroturf on health and environmental safety. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/363016738_Playing_Surface_and_Injury_Risk_Artificial_Turf_Vs_Natural_Grass https://www.uhhospitals.org/for-clinicians/articles-and-news/articles/2019/08/artificial-turf-versus-natural-grass https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10262297/

  • AK September 16, 2024 (9:55 am)

    Turf is full of forever chemicals and many more that are harmful to humans and the environment. I’m surprised that parents are all for poisoning their children slowly.

  • mygoodness September 16, 2024 (11:42 am)

    I would like to suggest several more sustainable alternatives that can still meet the demands of year-round play, safety, and gender equity:

    Sustainable Alternatives:

    1. Natural Grass Reinforcement Systems (Hybrid Turf): A blend of natural grass and synthetic fibers that improves durability while retaining the environmental benefits of grass, such as carbon sequestration and cooler surface temperatures.
    2. Low-Maintenance Grass Varieties: Resilient species such as clover or drought-tolerant native grasses that require less water and fewer chemical inputs, providing a softer, safer playing surface.
    3. Permeable Modular Surfaces: Eco-friendly modular surfaces that allow for natural drainage, reducing runoff and ensuring consistent, safe playability year-round.
    4. Sustainable Synthetic Turf with Natural Infill: If synthetic turf must be used, options with natural infill materials like cork or coconut fiber offer a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional infill.
    5. Living Grass with Advanced Drainage Systems: Upgrading existing grass fields with better drainage systems can enhance durability and reduce waterlogging, allowing for year-round accessibility without sacrificing sustainability.

    These solutions provide a balance between the community’s needs for safe, playable fields and our responsibility to minimize environmental impact.

  • Bill September 18, 2024 (2:45 pm)
  • Increased Playability: Synthetic turf fields can accommodate 2,500 to 3,000 hours of use per year, compared to about 800 hours for natural grass. This increased playability ensures more opportunities for local sports teams and community events throughout the year.
  • Enhanced Safety: Seattle’s commitment to using cork infill instead of crumb rubber proactively addresses safety concerns. Studies show that cork is non-toxic and environmentally friendly, making it a safer option for athletes of all ages.
  • Lower Maintenance Costs: Transitioning to synthetic turf can reduce maintenance costs by up to 50% compared to natural grass. This includes savings from eliminating irrigation, fertilization, and weed control, allowing funds to be redirected toward other community needs.
  • Consistency and Durability: Synthetic turf provides a uniform surface that minimizes the risk of injuries associated with uneven or muddy fields. Research indicates that synthetic turf can lead to lower injury rates in sports like soccer and football, enhancing player safety.
  • Community Engagement: Fields converted to synthetic turf often see a 30-50% increase in community use. More available hours for practice and games foster greater participation in sports and physical activities, contributing to the overall health and well-being of the community.
  • Nwe September 20, 2024 (3:48 pm)

    Well I guess the fairmont field is going to turf because Saka has a kid that plays once in a while. I love just sitting in this field and being quiet. It’s so nice having an open space to walk on that’s cool. But it’s another Seattle politician who is serving himself. No I don’t have kids. I wish I did. Not everyone can. But for some reason in Seattle if you don’t have a kid you don’t count. 

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