Keep it:
Microplastic-free
Toxin-free
PFAS-free

SFRPD is no stranger to battles over the installation of plastic playing fields. A massive movement by human health and environmental advocates was undertaken when the Beach Chalet soccer fields were under consideration several years ago. SFRPD won that battle and has been carpeting the city in plastic ever since. Meanwhile, the evidence against artificial turf keeps piling up like microplastics washing up on the beach.

Q: How much plastic will be used at Crocker Amazon?
A: On average, an 80,000-square-foot field contains 40,000 pounds of plastic carpeting and 400,000 pounds of infill, according to Beyond Plastics, a nonprofit aimed at eliminating plastic waste. While we don’t have the exact numbers yet, one soccer field, for example, covers between 1.6 and 2 acres of ground. That is a lot of plastic, and artificial turf comes in layers. There is always a top “carpet” layer with plastic grass blades. In addition to the carpet layer, there may be plastic padding underneath, or infill bits that may be mixed-or-made-with plastic or rubber. Each full-size artificial turf field eliminates over two acres of carbon-sequestering green space.

Q: What are these plastic fields made out of?
A: According to the Santa Clara County Medical Association, Environmental Health Task Force, Artificial turf is composed of a plastic backing, plastic “blades of grass” and cushioning infill. Typically tire crumb rubber is used for infill. All of these components are derived from petroleum products. These components contain microplastics as well as chemicals acknowledged as being hazardous such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), bio-accumulative (“forever”) per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), phthalates, silica (silica sand infill), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), carbon black and metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, and arsenic. In addition, pesticides and biocides are used on artificial fields to reduce bacteria, viruses and weeds, which could cause adverse reactions and skin sensitization.

Q: Why should I care about PFAS in artificial turf?
A: Children are much more likely to be harmed by exposure to chemicals in their environment than adults because they are smaller (so the exposure is greater) and because their bodies are still developing. This class of chemicals is often described as “forever chemicals” because they never fully break down in the environment. PFAS have been detected in drinking water and are linked to numerous adverse health impacts, including cancer and interference with endocrine and metabolic systems. According to a letter from the Synthetic Turf Council, currently there is no plastic turf product that is completely free of PFAS.

Q: Okay, but isn’t plastic turf cheaper than living natural grass?
A: The cost of a natural field is less than synthetic fields in the long run. Daviscourt (2017) performed a complete life cycle analysis comparing artificial turf versus natural turf over an 8-year period with turf replacements and revealed that the cost savings significantly favored natural turf grass. The University of Arkansas came to a similar conclusion when looking at maintenance costs, which include mowing, cleaning, chemical applications, replacement costs, and water use.

Q: Shouldn’t SFRPD just trust the artificial turf suppliers to look after the public’s interests?
A: By law manufacturers don't have to say which chemical compounds are used to make their artificial turf so how can we just trust them about product safety. The only way to find out which chemicals they’re exposing children to is to have artificial turf samples independently tested. Even if you’re still leaning toward plastic playing fields, insist that the city conduct independent tests on shock absorption, heat release, turf system toxics and environmental contamination. Read more at Test The Turf.

Q: Does artificial turf reduce injuries?
A: Even on poorly maintained natural grass fields players can lose their footing on uneven surfaces. Unfortunately, artificial turf increases “turf burn” abrasions from sliding, limb injuries and concussions, and can become dangerously hot in the sun, even in our mild climate, leading to plastic off-gassing. Case Western Reserve University and UH Sports Medicine Institute analyzed data collected by 26 high school athletic trainers and found athletes were 58 percent more likely to sustain an injury during athletic activity on artificial turf.

Q: Can plastic turf be recycled?
A: Synthetic grass is expensive to install, damages easily and needs to be replaced every decade. At this time, there are very few facilities nationwide that claim they can recycle only portions of this product, due to the high costs and difficulty resulting from various components of plastic turf that need to be dismantled and recycled separately. Thus, plastic turf typically ends up in landfill where it can take up to 500 years to decompose

Q: Will artificial turf increase playable hours?
A: Baseball, like tennis, just isn’t a game traditionally played in the rain. So whatever the surface, baseball teams are going to have down time during the spring rainy season. However, a 2022 Green Building Alliance report found that investing in organic natural grass management significantly increases playable hours and improves field conditions. Springfield, MA successfully implemented an organic sports field management program in 2014, improving grass conditions, increasing recreational use, and eliminating pesticides while protecting local water quality. Natural grass helps absorb rainfall, reducing stormwater runoff, preventing street flooding, and supporting urban biodiversity.

Tell the SF Rec & Park Commission and your Supervisor about the kind of park you want.