Verbal Communications after deadline (1)Dear Los Gatos Town Council,
I am writing to express my concerns about Creekside Sports Park’s current conditions as well as
it’s future surfacing.The list of capital improvement project priorities includes an additional
$500,000 to replace the artificial turf and infill at Creekside Sports Park,totalling $1M for
replacement.The field was installed in 2012 which makes it approximately 12 years old.The
average life expectancy of an artificial turf field is 8-10 years.If you visit the field,you will see
tire crumb infill at the surface of the field because the plastic blades have worn down to the level
of the infill.There is tire crumb infill in the soil landscaping around the field as well as loose
plastic blades.These can be found in the parking lot and in the drains as well.If you look
carefully or perhaps if you can walk around the outside of the fence (I could see it through the
fence)you will see green plastic blades outside of the fence on the creek side of the field as well
as crumb rubber.Requested GMAX (hardness testing)of the field revealed really poor readings
and what seemed to be inconsistent testing prior to the request.
It is easy to look out across an artificial turf field and think it looks ok or even nice when you
don’t know what makes up the product or what it really takes to maintain it for safety.For
example,an average field has 40,000 pounds of plastic and 400,000 lbs of rubber infill.The
Sports Field Management Association has a lot of resources and information on maintenance
and safety.https://www.sportsfieldmanagement.org/knowledge_center/synthetic-turf/Artificial
turf is seen as a “set it and forget it”type of surface,“no maintenance,”but it's a lie and a
dangerous one for our kids who play on it sometimes daily.There are rules for hardness
testing,aerating,refilling infill,brushing the field,rules about food and drinks on the field,
cleaning up debris and animal poop that can breed bacteria,rules about footwear,handwashing
and clothes washing after games or activity on the field,and more.It’s only in recent years that
more knowledge of plastic has revealed its toxicity and pollution issues.Tire crumb is an issue
on its own and while I believe the decision is to use a different infill for the new field,the problem
of the plastic remains along with whatever might be lurking in the alternative infill material.
There have been no environmental exposure studies on the alternative infills or even on the
plastic.There is only one study that was due in 2019 and has been delayed which only
addresses the tire crumb.https://oehha.ca.gov/risk-assessment/synthetic-turf-studies
For the most recent information on the turf study,the OEHHA scientific director gave a talk at a
tire symposium on Nov 3,2022.Link to his slides here (pdf):
https://custom.cvent.com/C506006261F8428CB7CCB91AAA9A05B4/files/event/239bd257d0b3
4d8585596e0ba19b9dac/6f057280f41f47cfb85ea68644722e5e.pdf You can see here all of the
potential routes of exposure,ingestion,and who is exposed (not just the players).
The California Department of Toxic Substances Control added artificial turf to it's 2021-2023
Priority Product Work Plan.If the agency concludes that artificial turf is a Priority Product,it will
become a requirement for manufacturers to label the toxic chemicals in it so that consumers are
aware.
https://dtsc.ca.gov/scp/priority-product-work-plan/
From the Three Year Priority Product Work Plan (2021-2023):
"The use of artificial turf at outdoor facilities is of concern since they are frequently used by
sensitive subpopulations,including young children.While air circulation is generally better in an
outdoor application,there is also an increased potential for exposure to Candidate Chemicals in
turf due to faster material degradation by outdoor elements,such as ultraviolet light,and high-
friction athletic use;in addition to increasing the release of chemicals from artificial turf during
use,these factors also affect the product’s life and make it necessary to replace it every eight to
10 years (STC [Synthetic Turf Council]2017).
The SCP (Safer Consumer Products)Program is interested in this product due to multiple
public comments received on our proposed regulations to list carpets and rugs containing
PFASs as a Priority Product.While there are numerous reports regarding the presence of many
Candidate Chemicals in artificial turf,recent data has emerged regarding the presence of
PFASs (Lerner 2019;Abel 2019;Ecology Center 2019;RTI Laboratories 2019a;PEER 2019;
RTI Laboratories 2019b...The PFASs present in artificial turf have a similar
potential to contribute to or cause adverse impacts to sensitive subpopulations.Therefore,the
program plans to leverage its prior work on PFASs in carpets and rugs and other products to
begin with an evaluation of PFASs in artificial turf.We will also explore the presence of other
Candidate Chemicals in artificial turf as future priorities and resources allow."
The momentum is building to question the safety and environmental and human health effects
of artificial turf.I will share just two local examples.Millbrae passed a ban on artificial turf in
their City as soon as AB676 passed both houses and was signed by Governor Newsom.See
more about SB 676 here:
https://www.ijpr.org/environment-energy-and-transportation/2023-10-24/once-it-was-hailed-as-a-
drought-fix-but-now-californias-moving-to-restrict-synthetic-turf-over-health-concerns
On October 24,2023,the City of Sunnyvale City Council voted to approve a park renovation
specifying natural grass (design proposed artificial turf)and to plan for a study session to
explore banning artificial turf in new City parks.
https://sunnyvaleca.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?LEGID=3770&GID=270&G=FA76FAAA-7A
74-41EA-9143-F2DB1947F9A5
Within the link to Action Details is a synopsis of comments made by the public as well as the
decision:
“Approve the Preferred Concept Plan for the Lakewood Park Renovation Project as shown on
Attachment 5 of the report and find the action is exempt from the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA)pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15262 with the following
modifications to:A.Replace the use of artificial turf with natural grass;B.Consider removing
fencing south of the halfway line of the multipurpose field;C.Explore the installation of Bermuda
grass and other drought resistant natural turf options;and Direct Staff to return with an agenda
item that explores removing artificial turf from the renovation plans of Ortega Park and to
establish a City Council policy barring the installation of artificial turf in new City parks.“
The recording is available at the site linked above.Presentation and discussion were from
3:37-5:17,Community comments from 5:17-6:23 and then discussion by council and vote from
6:33-7:29.
I know that artificial turf is on the Town’s General Plan and slated to be discussed.I hate to
delay the replacement of Creekside Sports Park’s field because I truly believe that people
should not be playing on it in its current state (and actually it looked similar 2 years ago when I
first visited it,though now with fewer visible blades).But I worry about the consequences to our
children,coaches,spectators,and the environment (particularly the creek below)in replacing
the field with more plastic.I wish that an alternative could be looked into.I and other advocates
have compiled a lot of resources,have a lot of information and try to keep up with the latest
research.We have a short list of grass experts who could discuss options for a drought tolerant
grass.
Looking forward with climate change and various cities’efforts to build sustainability plans,
artificial turf has no place on those plans.
Sincerely,
Pam Bond
Los Gatos parent
I am adding these two links which sum up the issues with artificial turf.
Center for Health and Environment (CHE):
https://www.healthandenvironment.org/join-us/blog/playing-on-plastic-artificial-turf-hazards-and-
safer-alternatives
Beyond Plastics:
https://www.beyondplastics.org/fact-sheets/synthetic-turf