As school districts and cities in the Bay Area look to upgrade athletic fields and parks, a heated debate has emerged over whether to choose natural grass or artificial turf. While artificial turf offers advantages like cost-effectiveness and year-round usability, concerns about its environmental impact, particularly the presence of harmful PFAS chemicals, are fueling opposition.
From left, Kyle Huscher, Cameron Crow and McClane Sjolund pull a heavy section of artificial turf into place as they work on installing synthetic turf in 2016 at one of three sports fields at Bernal Community Park in Pleasanton. In 2016, in the midst of a historic drought, California prohibited jurisdictions from limiting residentsÕ ability to install drought-tolerant landscaping like turf.
However, there is strong resistance to the material too, from those who point out that turf infills contain PFAS or “forever chemicals,” which break down slowly and can cause serious environmental harm and adverse health effects, including cancer. Turf has been praised for its ability to allow multiple sports to be played on a single field, even in inclement weather conditions. It is also an even and weed-free surface that doesn’t need to be fertilized or frequently watered,Those benefits have Sunnyvale resident Sandra Todd convinced that installing turf fields will support local sport organizations.
American midfielder Gabriella Munoz kicks a corner kick against Mission San Jose during the first half of a girls’ high school soccer match in 2024 in Fremont. “It’s ridiculous that it takes so much effort to wake up the world,” said Wald, who is co-founder of Community for Natural Play Surfaces, a group of local parents and environmental activists who advocate for natural play surfaces and educate people on the harms of artificial turf and other unsustainable materials.
It’s not just cities that are facing turf pushback from locals, but school districts, as well. In April, the Fremont Union High School District Board of Trustees — which serves students across Cupertino, Sunnyvale, Saratoga and San Jose —despite calls from Wald and other community members to make the switch to grass. The same resistance popped up last year in Los Gatos and Saratoga when the local high school district decided to replace their outdated turf fields with more turf.
Artificial Turf Natural Grass Environment PFAS Health Concerns
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