By Evelyn Alemanni

Mention artificial turf and you'll get lots of varying opinions. Here in southern California, some people have embraced the concept due to mandatory water restrictions. In Las Vegas, NV, residents were being PAID to use the stuff. In Canada, I've seen indoor soccer pitches where artificial turf has been installed to extend the playing season and allow kids to play in a climate-controlled arena.

One of our America in Bloom judges, Norm Kleber, is a turf expert. Here's his take on the subject.

"The ISTMA (Illinois Sports Turf Management Association) recommended the artificial turf systems over ten years ago to reduce maintenance costs and reduce injuries. They are currently reviewing their original position.

There are many different suppliers out there. When a facility considers a synthetic turf, the process takes well over three years for approval, fundraising and installation. The original Synthetic turf companies boasted of eco design when in fact the rubber sub layers and grasses blades themselves are constructed completely of virgin resin or new plastic and rubber. The drainage around the fields are not used for rainwater harvesting and just run off into retention ponds or storm sewer systems. The maintenance costs to date are higher because of the purchase of blowers, rollers, vacuums, brushes & brooms needed to continually groom adding to the carbon emissions they expected to reduce, as well as top dress with the designed sand. Granted, there is less turf restoration needed between a short football game schedule in the transition of Fall to Winter seasons with synthetic turf.
To date, the only eco findings are that an acre of turf has been replaced with virgin plastic and rubber. It looks fantastic and some feel soft. Due to the unstable soil structures in Northern Illinois with the crazy shift of weather patterns, several High Schools have had major repairs needed in the spring to repair freeze/thaw issues. It is the same reason you do not install an in-ground exterior swimming pool without a liner.

No reduction in sports related injuries have been documented as claimed, in fact they show a slight increase. Some southern communities have had to add special Air conditioning units to the field and the sidelines for players to defray the daytime heat build-up. It has been known to raise field temperatures another 40+ degrees. It is also known that with heat build-up, and how to combat this, some fields re-installed the irrigation lines so the water can cool the turf. Wasn't water savings one reason to install synthetic turf?

I am not stating that synthetic sports turf is bad, it is the individuals option. Even if the fields were constructed of 100% recycled rubber and plastics, I believe some of the same issues above would surface. The reason they installed the synthetic turf should be the same reason as why they continue to maintain it. If there is a switching of gears, it must be because they encountered some of the issues explained above. It is a costly adventure for taxpayers and donors, just suggest that it is fully thought out without cutting corners in order to be effective, sustainable, and cost effective.

As a Turf Professional commenting to Horticultural Professionals I ask a few questions; What is next? Plastic Palm trees as Urban Forestry? Plastic and silk flowers as Floral Displays. To me it is not a right or wrong answer, as long as the outcome expected is brought up during the conceptual stage. The results must equal or exceed all expectations in order for it to be successful."

The green in the photo? That's the real thing.