Residents and the Pasadena Audubon Society are urging the City Council to choose natural grass over artificial turf at Villa Parke and Robinson Park, citing heat, environmental concerns and long-term costs in correspondence submitted before Tuesday’s meeting.
“I empathize with the challenges of meeting demand for playing fields,” wrote Laura Fleming, a District 7 resident and environmental advisory commissioner. “I do not, however, believe that the benefits of a few more playable days outweigh the risks and the high costs of plastic fields.”
The letters challenge a staff recommendation to retain artificial turf at both parks. Councilmembers will consider the proposal Tuesday.
Staff recommends recyclable artificial turf systems that exclude PFAS from manufacturing and use natural infill materials, citing greater field availability and lower water and maintenance needs.
Fleming urged Councilmembers to consider how their decision would align with Pasadena’s environmental justice and climate planning.
“Vote for natural fields that cool Pasadena, are healthier for athletes and support the goals of the Environmental Justice Element and Climate Action Plan,” she wrote.
Pasadena Audubon Society Vice President Dave Weeshoff also called for transitioning to natural grass, citing a Sept. 13 environmental advisory memorandum recommending that approach.
Weeshoff wrote that the society found the advisory recommendation “represents the most thoughtful, concise and persuasive explanation of the environmental, financial and health aspects of the subject as pertains to our local constituency.”
Correspondence submitted by Therese Brummel raised concerns about chemical exposure, microplastic pollution, heat and waste from replacing synthetic surfaces.
“Durable, drought-tolerant, natural turf does not need to be replaced and landfilled every 10 years,” Brummel wrote. “Grass can be reseeded.”
Staff’s financial comparison estimates natural grass would cost approximately $1.53 million over 10 years at Villa Parke, compared with approximately $2.43 million for artificial turf, including replacement in the 10th year.
However, staff estimates artificial turf would provide approximately 3,120 prime-time available hours annually, compared with 2,340 for lighted natural grass. Annual maintenance and renovation would cost approximately $16,646 for artificial turf and $37,785 for grass.
Villa Parke’s soccer field replacement has a $975,000 allocation. Robinson Park’s multipurpose field is approaching the end of its useful life but lacks replacement funding and is included for comparison and future planning.
Installing natural grass would require a four- to six-month closure, compared with two to three months for artificial turf. Grass also would require periodic recovery and renovation closures.
The report acknowledges concerns involving artificial turf’s heat, microplastics, PFAS, stormwater and disposal. Pasadena’s Public Health Department is developing extreme-heat guidelines for outdoor youth recreation on both surfaces.
Staff proposes a two-year natural grass trial on approximately 25,000 square feet at Villa Parke’s multipurpose field, testing four seed varieties under identical maintenance conditions.
No additional appropriation is needed for the proposed artificial turf replacement at Villa Parke. Selecting natural or hybrid grass would require additional funding, according to the report from Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director Koko Panossian.
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