"This comprehensive study reaffirms what independent researchers and public health agencies have found for years: synthetic turf fields that use crumb rubber made from recycled rubber are safe for athletes and communities," said Melanie Taylor, CAE, President and CEO of the Synthetic Turf Council (STC). "At a time when California communities need durable, water-efficient, and year-round accessible recreational spaces for outdoor play, this study makes clear that synthetic turf remains a safe and responsible choice."

Initiated in 2015, the multi-year study included field sampling across 35 synthetic turf fields of varying ages and climate regions throughout California, analysis of more than 100 chemicals, and real-world exposure modeling for athletes and young children. The study evaluated potential exposure through skin contact, inhalation, and incidental ingestion, and characterized both short-term and long-term health outcomes. The findings provide clarity for schools, municipalities, and families who rely on these fields for year-round recreation and athletics. OEHHA identified no acute health hazards to users of synthetic turf with crumb rubber infill, including toddlers. Risk of cancer, sensory irritation, harm to the reproductive system or a developing fetus, or other health effects was found to be negligible.

The OEHHA report follows similar findings from previous independent studies. In 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), concluded that athletes who played on synthetic turf fields that use crumb rubber infill experienced no significant difference in chemical exposure than those who played on fertilized sod fields. The EPA and OEHHA reports reflect a growing body of scientific consensus that synthetic turf is a safe, reliable option for communities to enjoy year-round access to play.

The full OEHHA study is available at www.oehha.ca.gov. Additional information about synthetic turf can be found at www.syntheticturfcouncil.org.

Media Contact
Brendan Conley
Media Inquiry Form

Our recreational fields are more than just playing surfaces; they are essential community infrastructure. Synthetic turf plays a crucial role in providing year-round access to these fields across California. That's why I'm deeply concerned about a proposal by some on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors to restrict its use.

In April, the Board approved a study on the implications of artificial turf, paving the way for the current consideration of a ban, despite opposition from Board President Susan Ellenberg and Supervisor Cindy Chavez. On August 27th, the Board is likely to vote on a proposal to restrict turf in the county. This decision should not be made lightly, nor without input from those most affected: Santa Clara County residents.

The community benefits of turf work hand in hand with achieving other important priorities for Californians, including when it comes to protecting the environment. In a state where water conservation is vital, a full-size synthetic turf field can save up to 1 million gallons annually, contributing significantly to our drought efforts. Additionally, synthetic turf eliminates nearly a billion pounds of pesticides and fertilizers, protecting ecosystems. The industry is also advancing recyclability, with companies transforming worn-out fields into raw materials for new installations, supporting sustainability and the circular economy.

Take the City of Irvine, where their sports complex hosts over 5 million visitors annually. In just the last few days, the city decided to expand the use of synthetic turf in the complex specifically because of the benefits it provides in increased access and more manageable maintenance. The city stated: "Synthetic turf is available for use all day, withstands diverse, heavy sports traffic, and can be used in the rain. These advantages mean a synthetic turf field will provide almost four times more use hours over its life cycle than a comparable, well-maintained, natural grass field.” The proposed ban in Santa Clara County overlooks these benefits.

The industry is committed to the safety of our products and to working with policymakers to ensure communities can continue to benefit from its use. As many know, synthetic turf contains no intentionally-added PFAS. Studies show PFAS levels around synthetic turf fields are often lower than those in grass fields and other environments. Manufacturers also continue to innovate to further enhance the use of turf. For instance, new cooling systems counter "heat island" effects, with all-natural infills cooling the turf by 25 to 45 degrees.

The voices of Santa Clara County residents—those who regularly benefit from turf fields—are what matter most. On August 13, many spoke out at the Board of Supervisors hearing against any proposals to restrict the use of turf. As one resident, Noah Guzman, testified, "the grass is hard to maintain, costly, and turf is the way to go." Residents can testify again on August 27th or contact the Board of Supervisors before the vote, urging the Board to reconsider the turf ban.

A turf ban in Santa Clara County hurts families, students, and communities. The Board should have all the facts and hear from the voices in this community before voting on such a decisive policy.

"We thank the EPA for the dedication and time that went into this report and are pleased to see it reaffirms what other research has shown: synthetic turf and its system components are safe," said Melanie Taylor, President and CEO of STC. "Synthetic turf systems unlock thousands of hours of additional play across America, save millions of gallons of water annually, and provide a more consistent playing surface. Our industry has long been and remains committed to safety and creating sustainable play spaces, and we are pleased to see that the largest study ever conducted on crumb rubber infill in the country demonstrates there is no elevated health exposure for playing on synthetic turf systems."

The report also cited three independent studies that demonstrated the safety of synthetic turf fields or system components.

• Netherlands National Institute for Health and Environment wrote that the “risk to health from playing sports on these synthetic turf fields is virtually negligible.”
• European Chemicals Agency found “no reason to advise people against playing sports on synthetic turf containing recycled rubber granules as infill material.”
• National Toxicology Program found there “was no evidence of toxicity in mice from ingestion of crumb rubber.”

In February 2016, the EPA, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (CDC/ATSDR) and in collaboration with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), started a multi-agency research effort called the Federal Research Action Plan on the Use of Tire Crumbs in Playing Fields and Playgrounds (FRAP). Yesterday, the agencies released the Synthetic Turf Field Recycled Tire Crumb Rubber Characterization Research Final Report: Part 2 -Tire Crumb Rubber Exposure Characterization. 

The Synthetic Turf Council (STC) is a 501(c)6 non-profit trade association serving the synthetic turf industry. Its mission is to lead, educate, and advocate for the synthetic turf industry. Founded in 2003, the STC is a resource for credible, independent research on the safety and environmental impact of synthetic turf, as well as technical guidance on the selection, installation, maintenance, and environmentally responsible disposal of synthetic turf. STC membership includes builders, landscape architects, testing labs, maintenance providers, manufacturers, suppliers, installation contractors, infill material suppliers, and other specialty service companies. For more information, visit www.syntheticturfcouncil.org.

Local communities and families across California are choosing synthetic turf because of its numerous benefits. By making the choice to go with turf for a sports field or a residential landscape, Californians are expanding access to their fields and yards year round, helping to protect the environment and lowering costs so communities can maximize their resources. 
Turf expands access for all, replacing muddy or dusty playgrounds, sports fields, and backyards to provide year-round outdoor enjoyment. Take for example students at Highland Elementary School in Visalia, who were able to enjoy more time outside after their dry and grass-less playground was replaced with a green, vibrant, and playable turf field. In short, synthetic turf removes the uncertainty of where children will play after school or if there will be a place to exercise, and instead provides multi-use opportunity, remains usable in the rain or shine, is reliable, and increases access for all communities year-round. 

In addition to expanding access, there are environmental benefits to synthetic turf.  For one, artificial turf uses significantly less water than natural grass. One synthetic turf field alone can save 500,000 to one million gallons of water each year. And, based on the total number of these fields in North America, about six billion gallons of water are saved annually. For families who are utilizing turf as part of their residential landscape, they too are helping to reduce water usage. In fact, an average turf lawn of 1,800 square feet will save an estimated 99,000 gallons of water annually. These water savings can add up to $500, or 70% of a homeowner's average water bill. 

When communities and households turn to turf, they also eliminate the need for using chemicals to maintain grass. On average, 80 million pounds of pesticides are used across the United States each year to maintain natural grass. That use is reduced to zero with the installation of turf.

Synthetic turf also allows communities and households to reduce costs and be judicious with resources. In 2021, a comparative study found that on average the cost of 40 events per year for natural grass fields was about $1,362.50. Artificial turf brings that per event cost down significantly: the average annual cost of 1,000 events for synthetic turf is $3.85. These costs are based on a 10-year usage cycle, showing that turf stands the test of time – saving communities money in the long run. Turf fields also save communities time and money in maintenance, removing the need for a lawn mower, yard chemicals, or watering. These fields are also known for their durability and long lifespans. They can endure more than 500 hours of use before requiring maintenance. 

For athletes, synthetic turf is also reliable.  A study found that there was no difference in ACL injuries for NCAA soccer players during matches on natural grass and synthetic turf, and even that those who practiced on natural grass had an increased risk of ACL injury compared to those practicing on turf. The latter also provides a consistent playing surface. As Super Bowl winning former NFL quarterback, Eli Manning, says, "I think the turf, it gives you a reliable field all the time." He went on: "You always have a clean surface."

Turf brings communities together in rain or shine and provides these same communities with a surface to enjoy year-round. The impact of turf goes big – in water conservation – and small – by cutting maintenance costs for elementary schools right here in California and across the country. While state lawmakers, cities, and counties debate this issue, there are many benefits to synthetic turf that should be a big part of the conversation. 

Melanie Taylor is the president and CEO of the Synthetic Turf Council (STC), a non-profit trade association serving the synthetic turf industry. Shaun Garrity is a resident of San Diego and works as the national sales manager for The Motz Group, a sports field builder and product supplier that is a member organization of STC.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

The report highlights what we already know about crumb rubber infill in synthetic turf fields: crumb rubber is made of the same components found in everyday consumer products, and hospital and classroom floors. The report reconfirms that the mere presence of a substance does not equate with human exposure, and recognizes substances are also present in natural grass and other types of fields. Furthermore, when the EPA tested for dozens of substances it found low and below-detection limits emissions, which is consistent with previous studies. We look forward to the EPA finishing their human exposure characterization in a timely manner in order to provide parents and communities the certainty they deserve.

Highlights of the report:

• This research represents the largest and most robust study of synthetic turf fields and tire crumb rubber to date in the United States.
• Findings from this study support the premise that while many chemicals are present in the recycled tire crumb rubber, exposure may be limited based on what is released into air or biological fluids.
• The presence of a substance does not directly equate with human exposure. While there are many chemicals associated with recycled tire crumb rubber, [the EPA] laboratory experiments suggest that the amount of chemicals available for exposure through release into the air and simulated biological fluids is relatively low.
• Emissions of many organic chemicals into air were typically found to be below detection limits or test chamber background, and releases of metals into simulated biological fluids were very low (mean bioaccessibility values averaged about 3% in gastric fluid and less than 1% in saliva and sweat plus sebum).
• In general, concentrations [of measured metal and extractable semivolatile organic compounds (SVOC)] in this study were consistent with, and within the range of, concentrations found in previous studies.
• While there is concern about chemical exposures resulting from the use of recycled tire and other materials in synthetic fields, it is important to recognize that some of the chemicals are likely to be present in other types of fields, including natural grass fields. For example, metals (including lead) and PAHs (including benzo[a]pyrene) of potential concern at synthetic turf fields with tire crumb rubber infill are also often found in surface soil in the U.S. and may be present at natural grass playing fields.
• This report is not a risk assessment.

The full Synthetic Turf Field Recycled Tire Crumb Rubber Characterization Research Final Report: Part 1 -Tire Crumb Rubber Characterization can be found here. Further information, including background and context can be found below in the background section.

The STC has developed multiple resources for you to use when you receive questions on the EPA findings inside and outside the industry. Please feel free to use the above highlights of the report (the quotes have been taken directly from the report) and sample tweet below. The Coalition for Better Fields and Surfaces, which includes the STC, has developed a resource website located at https://www.recycledrubberfacts.org. If you have any questions or comments on the EPA report, or if you receive media/publication inquiries, please reach out to me directly at dan@syntheticturfcouncil.org.

Sample Tweet:

• Overall, today's EPA report highlights what we already know about crumb rubber infill in synthetic turf fields - it is made of the same components found in everyday consumer products, and hospital and classroom floors. https://tinyurl.com/yxhn6myk   

Background

This report is part of the Federal Research Action Plan (FRAP) on Recycled Tire Crumb Used on Playing Fields and Playgrounds, a multi-agency research effort by EPA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (CDC/ATSDR), and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to characterize the chemicals associated with tire crumb rubber and to identify the ways in which people may be potentially exposed to those chemicals based on their activities on synthetic turf fields. The report has undergone independent, external peer review in accordance with EPA and CDC policies.

The Federal Research Action Plan was launched in 2016 to address concerns raised by the public about soccer players and the safety of recycled tire crumb used in playing fields and playgrounds. The research activities represent a collaborative federal effort to increase knowledge and available information about synthetic turf fields by developing exposure information (what is in the material and how people come in contact with the material). CPSC is conducting separate research on playgrounds.

EPA and CDC/ATSDR are reporting research findings in two parts. Part 1 Tire Crumb Rubber Characterization Research Report summarizes results on a range of chemicals, including metals and organic chemicals, that were found in the tire crumb rubber. Based upon available literature, this research represents the largest and most robust study of synthetic turf fields and tire crumb rubber to date in the United States. Tire crumb rubber samples were collected from nine tire recycling facilities, and tire crumb rubber infill was collected from 40 synthetic turf fields across the United States. The fields represented a range of field types, field ages and geographic locations and included both indoor and outdoor fields. Multiple analytical techniques were applied to measure physical, chemical and microbiological attributes of the various groups of samples. Tire crumb rubber characterization results from this portion of the research provide insight into the number and types of chemicals associated with the material, the amount of chemicals released into the air and biological fluids, and the range and variability of these parameters.

Part 2, to be released later, will include data to characterize potential human exposures to the chemicals found in the tire crumb rubber material while using synthetic turf fields. Part 2 will be released along with results from a biomonitoring study being conducted by CDC/ATSDR to investigate potential exposure to constituents in tire crumb rubber. These research activities and the resulting findings do not provide an assessment of the risks associated with playing on or contact with the tire crumb rubber used for synthetic turf fields. Instead, these research results should inform future risk assessments.

For more information on the FRAP: https://www.epa.gov/chemical-research/federal-research-action-plan-recycled-tire-crumb-used-playing-fields.

Updated information is available at EPA’s study website, www.epa.gov/tirecrumb.

Based on publicly available information, the STC and industry participants have filed hundreds of e-Allegation violations that question whether the synthetic turf that is being imported into the U.S. is properly coded and subject to tariffs. CBP is using this data and other information in order to conduct its investigation. 

According to CBP, e-Allegations provide a means for the public to report to CBP any suspected violations of trade laws or regulations related to the importation of goods into the U.S. These types of violations include misclassification of merchandise, false country of origin markings, health and safety issues, valuation issues and intellectual property rights.

The STC has also learned that as new tariffs on synthetic turf have been put in place, shipping companies have accelerated their marketing efforts by offering to relabel containers through intermediate destinations (called ‘transshipping’) to hide the true country of origin. This involves taking a shipment for a fee from a country that has a tariff in place, unloading it in a country that does not, repacking and shipping the container to the U.S. The result obfuscates the country of origin and determination of tariffs. 

“The STC applauds CBP for taking a look at importers of synthetic turf who may not play by the rules,” said Dan Bond, President and CEO of the Synthetic Turf Council. “The goal is to create a level playing field for market economy manufacturers.”

This past weekend at the G20 Summit, Presidents Trump and Xi agreed to halt new trade tariffs for the next 90 days. A tariff increase on synthetic turf from 16 to 25 percent was scheduled to go into effect January 1st. CBP has the authority to target and examine shipments that come into the U.S. and to work with other federal agencies to request additional duties and civil and criminal penalties if warranted. Additionally, CBP can investigate prior imports to assess rate advances or penalties. The STC will be monitoring the investigation closely in the next few months. 

Contact:
Dan Bond
President and CEO
Synthetic Turf Council
443-640-1067 x143 

Feel free to contact STC President & CEO Dan Bond dan@syntheticturfcouncil.org or ESTO Chairman Stefan Diderich Stefan@theesto.com should you have any questions.

Dan Bond, President and CEO of the Synthetic Turf Council, said:

“The Synthetic Turf Council fully supports the RIVM’s desire to keep the environment safe and free of any harm, and we applaud the stated finding by the RIVM that drinking water derived from groundwater near synthetic turf pitches is safe. Given the emotional debate surrounding synthetic turf fields with recycled rubber infill, it is important for municipalities and school districts alike to know that local water sources are safe. Furthermore, the RIVM wrote that children exposed to border soil through ingestion, inhalation, or skin exposure are not at risk. 

We find it unfortunate, however, that the RIVM concludes that recycled rubber infill may lead to localized contamination of soil borders. It is critical to note that the RIVM stated that there were no indications that birds or mammals face any adverse effects. Additionally, we agree with the RIVM’s conclusions that there are no risks resulting from consumption of fruit and vegetables sprayed by ditch water in the area of such fields, that ditches around synthetic turf fields do not have higher levels of pollutants than those around natural grass fields, and that the concentration of substances in sediment at the bottom of these ditches was not as high as that in soil borders studied. 

The RIVM’s study follows more than 100 peer-reviewed academic studies, third-party reports and federal and state government analyses that have not found public health concerns from playing on synthetic turf fields with recycled rubber infill. While a minority of the findings of this study are concerning, we applaud the RIVM for providing critical context and certainty for policymakers regarding safety of synthetic turf fields with recycled rubber infill.”

Link to results of exploratory study.

Beth Hyatt, March 27, 2018 /Total Landscape Care/

With spring upon us and the hope of warmer weather on the minds of your customers, it may be time to start discussing design ideas and upcoming projects.

One concept your customers might ask about is the growing popularity of artificial turf. Total Landscape Care talked with experts from the Synthetic Turf Council to give an update on the synthetic turf industry, what benefits they see this type of turf yielding and where they believe it’s going in the next few years.

If you find clients desiring more information on the topic, or you have already had some asking about it, take a look at what the experts say artificial turf can do when installed in a landscape.

Popularity and uses

While some customers may still be on the fence when it comes to artificial turf, those in the industry believe it to be one of the best investments when it comes to having, using and maintaining a beautiful and functioning landscape.

Dan Bond, president and CEO of the Synthetic Turf Council, says that last year proved to be another banner year for the synthetic turf industry.

“Overall, we’re seeing double-digit growth for installation for the landscape,” Bond said. “We have many numbers out there but one of the things that we can accurately say is that the landscape side is growing substantially.”

With such a large portion of the nation being affected by drought, Bond says it’s easy to see why synthetic turf would be popular and continue to gain popularity over the years.

Bond says some of the benefits of artificial turf include higher water savings, fewer emissions from lawn mowers (offering a greener alternative), reducing your customer’s carbon footprint, allowing pet owners to have less mud and mess in their landscape and less of a pest presence in the landscape.

Bond says that the task of mowing a lawn isn’t necessarily a practice that’s looked forward to by the large majority of people. This factor in itself, Bond says, is one of the main reasons he believes synthetic turf has continued to gain and maintain popularity.

“You’re talking about something that takes minimal care,” Bond said. “You have the upfront costs of purchasing and installing, but after that, it’s very low maintenance.”

Bond says that pet owners, in particular, can find great benefits in having a synthetic lawn, as it would allow them to keep the look of a natural lawn with the ease of cleaning up after pets built in. From the standpoint of how the lawn looks, Bond says synthetic lawns still look just as beautiful as natural lawns but don’t come with the same headaches, such as dealing with insects and other pests.

“If you have any type of insect that comes in or an invasive species, for natural grass that’s going to take not just time and resources; it’s not going to look as nice,” Bond said.

Bond mentions that the longevity of artificial turf is also an excellent selling point. Where sports fields and areas like that may only have a lifespan of eight to 10 years, he says areas like lawns can potentially last 15 years or more, depending on foot traffic.

A main focus in the industry at the moment, according to Bond, is the focus on artificial turf’s heat retention properties.

“We’re constantly developing new technology to keep the temperature of the turf itself and right above it as well down to a minimum,” Bond said.

Bond says that artificial turf can also prove to be beneficial for customers who have the tendency to change their minds on landscape design after a year or two. Installation is simple, Bond says, and the ability to change up the turf is also simplistic.

“The way that a synthetic turf system works is you have multiple layers underneath the turf itself,” Bond said. “So, you have a base system. From there, you just put the turf on top of it after the multiple layers that your installer builds in, as well as the turf itself. So really if you have a proper installation that’s appropriate for the climate and what you’d like to get out of it, it’s very easy to take the turf up itself and put down new landscape turf.”

Bond says that pet owners find synthetic turf to be the most appropriate option when it comes to lawn design, and playgrounds have also proved to be a viable market for synthetic turf.

“Playgrounds that have recycled rubber as mats and ones that also have synthetic turf for the ground really provide a great opportunity to protect the kids, and they can play on it year-round,” Bond said. “If you have a playground with just grass underneath, you’d have to be replacing the grass in some of the high traffic areas.”

Bond adds that another popular place synthetic turf has appeared is on rooftops. In areas with warmer climates, Bond notes that buildings have the tendency to heat up immensely, and putting turf on the rooftops will help reflect some of the heat that would naturally be absorbed by the building. This helps lower air conditioning costs and also adds a nice green-like element to the building’s exterior.

Who likes it more?

As previously noted, the synthetic turf market has seen steady growth over the years and now it’s reached double-digit growth. This begs the question of who likes the product more: landscapers or consumers?

Bond says that this growth has been seen from all sides of the industry.

“We’re seeing an incredible amount of interest on the installer side to participate in the certification program that we just launched,” Bond said.

Bond notes that on the consumer side of the equation, he’s seen a spike in participation as well, especially in drought-prone areas. Since the call to be more environmentally savvy and green has pushed to the forefront of society recently, Bond says more consumers are working to be good stewards of the environment by installing artificial turf.

Cancer scares

In 2014, reports surfaced from Amy Griffin, then the assistant head coach of women’s soccer at the University of Washington, that many of her current and former players had been diagnosed with cancer.

That year, Griffin compiled a list of players she knew who were diagnosed with cancer. This drew the attention of both the University of Washington School of Public Health and the Washington State Department of Health. According to CNN, in January of 2017, it was concluded that the turf was not the cause of the cancer.

Griffin told CNN that among the 53 players on her list, many of those diagnosed had blood cancers, including leukemia, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and Hodgkin’s lymphoma. She also reports that over 60 percent of the players were goalkeepers.

“As a scientist who is not a toxicologist, I don’t see any trends in existing data indicating any real significant issues with tire crumb or synthetic surfaces and cancer-causing agents,” Andrew McNitt, a professor of soil science and director of the Center for Sports Surface Research at Pennsylvania State University, told CNN. “But with that being said, no research is ever completely definitive. If there is a significant issue, we have a much bigger issue in this country than synthetic turf. Tires are constantly degrading in the environment near you. Whenever you are driving down the road, you are exposed to tire dust.”

For more than 20 years, Bond says the Synthetic Turf Council has sought to debunk these rumors and many more like it by conducting research and tests. Bond says that after the initial rumors surfaced in 2014, the Council compiled a list of approximately 95 peer review studies from the United States government, individual state governments and in Europe.

Through these studies, Bond says the Council has found there are no negative health effects for anyone playing on or installing these types of sports fields.

“We’re trying to educate consumers and lawmakers about how beneficial turf is, both on the sports field and the landscape side, and also how environmentally friendly it is,” Bond said.

Bond notes that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has plans to release a peer review study later this year on the subject.

“We’ll continue to work with the EPA,” Bond said. “I know the European Union is studying the issue as well; we’ll continue to work with agencies over in Europe and with anyone who’s willing to conduct credible scientific-based research.”

For more information on the studies performed by the Synthetic Turf Council, click here.

BY DAN BOND, ART DODGE AND ROM REDDY, OPINION CONTRIBUTORS - 06/21/17 05:40 PM EDT

The Environmental Protection Agency has been tweaking what it bills a comprehensive investigation of synthetic turf fields and playground infill containing recycled rubber. The initiative launched in February 2016 in response to unfounded claims about potential health risks. Today we’re still waiting on the agency — to either develop a credible study or accept the extensive scientific research that shows no evidence of a connection between recycled rubber and health risks.

The results of the study — led by the EPA in conjunction with the Consumer Products Safety Commission and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry — were intended to fill any “data and knowledge gaps” in the existing body of science, and address the lingering rumors and concerns around the safety of these products once and for all.

Visit the article here:

http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/energy-environment/338830-the-science-is-in-epa-end-the-debate-on-turf-safety

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today the Safe Fields Alliance (“SFA”), a coalition dedicated to educating stakeholders around the safety of synthetic turf fields using recycled rubber, and the Synthetic Turf Council (“STC”), a non-profit trade association dedicated to serving as a resource for trustworthy information about synthetic turf, issued the following statement regarding the December 30th, 2016 Environmental Protection Agency Status Report on the Federal Research Action Plan on artificial turf:

“We understand that last Friday’s announcement marks incremental progress by the EPA on its Federal Research Action Plan. However, we cannot overstate the pressing need for the Agency to share clear and concise findings as soon as possible in 2017 in order to provide answers and eliminate uncertainty for parents and policymakers.

Based on the more than 90 scientific studies that have already looked into the safety of synthetic turf fields and other surfaces with recycled rubber infill, we believe the answers are already out there. Just last week, after sampling 100 synthetic turf fields, the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) concluded, “Playing sports on synthetic turf fields with rubber granulate is safe.” We are confident that the EPA will also ultimately reach the same conclusion: that there are no links to any negative health effects from recycled rubber.

The industry is fully committed to transparency and safety, and has worked to collaborate with the EPA on this effort. In addition to our collaboration, the industry has simultaneously taken its own proactive steps by cooperating to ensure all synthetic turf and playground infills meet new ASTM toy standards for heavy metals.

While we agree that the EPA should not sacrifice thoroughness for expediency, after nearly a year of study, the cloud of uncertainty is hurting businesses as well as jobs. The science is evident, and it is time for the EPA and other regulatory agencies to bring clarity to the situation.”

About the Safe Fields Alliance

The Safe Fields Alliance (SFA) is a coalition dedicated to educating stakeholders around the safety of synthetic turf fields and recycled rubber, including that based on an overwhelming amount of scientific evidence, there is no link between turf and recycled rubber and health issues. For more information, please visit www.safefieldsalliance.com.

About the Synthetic Turf Council

Based in Maryland, the Synthetic Turf Council was founded in 2003 to promote the industry and to assist buyers and end users with the selection, use and maintenance of synthetic turf systems in sports field, golf, municipal parks, airports, landscape and residential applications. The organization is also a resource for current, credible, and independent research on the safety and environmental impact of synthetic turf, as well as technical guidance on the selection, installation, maintenance, and environmentally responsible disposal of synthetic turf. Membership includes builders, landscape architects, testing labs, maintenance providers, manufacturers, suppliers, installation contractors, infill material suppliers and other specialty service companies. For more information, visit www.syntheticturfcouncil.org.

Contacts

Sloane & Company
Joe Germani, 212-486-9500
jgermani@sloanepr.com
or
Roger Sauerhaft, 212-486-9500
rsauerhaft@sloanepr.com

Recycled Rubber Council, Safe Fields Alliance, and Synthetic Turf Council Members Commit to Adhering to ASTM Toy Standards for Synthetic Turf Infills

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Leading members of the recycled rubber and synthetic turf industries today announced that they are jointly cooperating to ensure all synthetic turf and playground infills meet new ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) toy standards for heavy metals to further ensure safety for youth athletes.

ASTM International is the leading global standards organization, establishing industry-wide standards across a wide range of materials, including for all toys sold within the United States. With today’s announcement, all synthetic turf field and playground infill created and used by leading members of the Recycled Rubber Council, Safe Fields Alliance, and Synthetic Turf Council will comply with F3188-16, the Standard Specification for Extractable Hazardous Metals in Synthetic Turf Infill Materials. This comes in addition to products already meeting standards set by the European Union.

“Our industry firmly believes in taking proactive steps to augment ongoing testing by the federal government to reassure parents and policymakers that the fields and playgrounds children play on are every bit as safe as the toys they play with,” said Steve Bigelow, President of the Recycled Rubber Council. “We’ve chosen to voluntarily take this step to demonstrate our commitment to children safety, and we continue to welcome all further scientific-based testing and collaboration towards achieving these ends.”

“Today’s announcement simply reinforces our industry’s commitment to safety and transparency, which we have also made clear through our support of the current federal multi-agency study,” said Rom Reddy, Managing Partner of Sprinturf. “At the same time, it is important to reaffirm that based on dozens of reports, including peer-reviewed academic studies and federal and state government analyses, recycled rubber infill has no link to any health issues. Hopefully this will go one step further towards alleviating any concerns around this issue.”
“With the addition of F3188-16 to our industry guidelines for infill, we continue to take voluntarily steps to adopt key safety standards in the use of our products,” said Daniel Bond, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Synthetic Turf Council. “We are committed to adopting the most stringent of standards moving forward.”

Given the possibility for athletes participating in sports on synthetic turf playing fields to come into contact with or ingest particles of infill materials, through being in compliance with ASTM toy standards, members of the Recycled Rubber Council, Safe Fields Alliance, and Synthetic Turf Council are committed to delivering products where the levels of extractable metals—present at low levels within many everyday products—are within ranges deemed to be safe in children’s toys.

About the Recycled Rubber Council
The Recycled Rubber Council (RRC) serves manufacturers, processors, and distributors of recycled rubber products; entities that supply products or services to those that manufacture or process recycled rubber products; and individuals or entities that benefit from recycled rubber products. Its mission is to communicate, advocate, and educate about the safety and beneficial uses of recycled rubber. For more information, please visit http://www.recycledrubbersafetycouncil.org/.

About the Safe Fields Alliance
The Safe Fields Alliance (SFA) is a coalition dedicated to educating stakeholders around the safety of synthetic turf fields and crumb rubber, including that based on an overwhelming amount of scientific evidence, there is no link between turf and crumb rubber and health issues. Three of the leading North American manufacturers of synthetic turf fields – FieldTurf, Sprinturf, and AstroTurf, working alongside several leading recycled rubber manufacturers, came together to help alleviate concerns related to this issue. For more information, please visit www.safefieldsalliance.com.

About the Synthetic Turf Council
Based in Maryland, the Synthetic Turf Council was founded in 2003 to promote the industry and to assist buyers and end users with the selection, use and maintenance of synthetic turf systems in sports field, golf, municipal parks, airports, landscape and residential applications. The organization is also a resource for current, credible, and independent research on the safety and environmental impact of synthetic turf, as well as technical guidance on the selection, installation, maintenance, and environmentally responsible disposal of synthetic turf. Membership includes builders, landscape architects, testing labs, maintenance providers, manufacturers, suppliers, installation contractors, infill material suppliers and other specialty service companies. For more information, visit www.syntheticturfcouncil.org.

To discover the truth about recycled rubber, we encourage everyone to read the information packet and visit http://www.recycledrubbercouncil.org. 

Synthetic Turf Fields, Crumb Rubber, and Concerns about Cancer

by Archie Bleyer, MD*

Download the PDF of this letter here.

In addition to a significant number of prior studies in the U.S. and Europe that do not identify any reason for concern around playing on synthetic turf fields with recycled rubber infill, there are three other reasons to be reassured that synthetic turf does not cause cancer.

1. While Chair of the world’s largest pediatric cancer research organization during the 1990s, I was responsible for millions of dollars of research on what caused cancer in children, adolescents and young adults. None of the studies that we conducted, nationally and in multistate surveys, within homes and with environmental sampling, of childhood and prenatal exposures, and of many other variables, showed evidence that an environmental factor caused these cancers. The cancers we studied included the lymphomas implicated in the crumb rubber controversy.
   
   For middle and later adulthood, we know that cancer can be caused by cumulative exposure over many years to carcinogens like tobacco, radiation, asbestos, ultraviolet ray (sun and tanning machines) and alcohol. For cancer in youth, however, none of our extensive research efforts could “identify environmental exposures that might explain more than a small fraction of the observed cases”.^1,2 We concluded that virtually all cancer in the young is a mistake of nature—spontaneous mutation to malignancy is the biologic term—and not due to an exogenous, potentially preventable cause. Since our studies, no valid scientifically-conducted research has been published that has uncovered external causes of cancer in children, adolescents or young adults.
   
   
2. It’s human nature to blame. When unfortunate events occur for which there is no known cause, we want to assume that there has to be a reason that hopefully can lead to prevention. Blaming autism on vaccines is a recurrent example, and one that illustrates another human behavior: refusal to believe objective, scientific, irrefutable evidence.³ This human need and attendant denial causes unnecessary alarms, especially when cancer is the event. The notion that synthetic turf fields cause cancer in the young is another example of need to attribute blame.
   
   
3. The cancers that have been reported to occur in soccer players are precisely those cancers that are expected to occur in the age group that’s being discussed. Moreover, they are consistent with the race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status of those who have access to synthetic fields. When these factors are taken into consideration (click here or paste the URL⁴ to review), the incidence of the implicated cancers in no higher than in those who do not have access to synthetic turf fields.
   
   
4. Regular physical activity has been clearly demonstrated to prevent cancer. Not participating in physical activity increases the risk of cancer and hence lack or removal of facilities that allow exercise increase the incidence of cancer.

Archie Bleyer, MD
Pediatric and Young Adult Oncologist

*Dr. Bleyer is Clinical Research Professor in Radiation Medicine at the Oregon Health and Science University, and founding member of the Critical Mass Young Adult Cancer Alliance and founder of DEFEATcancer.⁵ Dr. Bleyer chaired the Children’s Cancer Group for 10 years, then the world's largest pediatric cancer research organization, the Department and Division of Pediatrics at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Community Oncology in the Department and Division of Medicine at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. At the University of Washington School of Medicine, he was the American Cancer Society Professor of Clinical Oncology and in charge of the cancer curriculum. Dr. Bleyer has been awarded research grants totaling more than $75 million as a principal investigator from the National Institutes of Health, the American Cancer Society, and the Leukemia Society of America. His research has been published in more than 300 peer-reviewed articles, chapters, and books. His current personal clinical research is dedicated to adolescents and young adult (AYA) oncology.

¹ Buckley JD, Buckley CM, Breslow NE, et al. Med Pediat Oncol 26:223,1996.
² Olsen JH, Boice JD Jr, Seersholm N, Bautz A, Fraumeni JF. N Engl J Med. 333(24):1594-9,1995.
³ The most recent study, performed because there are still doubters, by the University of Washington's Center on Human Development and Disability, the University of Texas Southwestern; and the Texas A&M Health Science Center & Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, documents no evidence for adverse behavioral effects in infant monkeys administered the suspect vaccine (http://hsnewsbeat.uw.edu/sites/default/files/sites/default/file s/documents/PNAS-2015-Gadad-1500968112.pdf).
⁴ http://comedsoc.org/index.php?m=47&s=486
⁵ http://www.stcharleshealthcare.org/Our-Services/Cancer-Care/DEFEATCancer

When the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (NJDHSS) announced on April 14, 2008 that a few synthetic turf sports fields contained elevated levels of lead, the Synthetic Turf Council and the synthetic turf industry took the following actions to respond responsibly and urgently to the public’s uncertainty about the safety of synthetic turf.

• Lead specialists in epidemiology and toxicity were hired to conduct numerous tests on turf of all types and ages, and met with officials from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Environmental Protection Agency, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and New Jersey Department of Health & Senior Services.  The scientists, test results, and finally on July 30, 2008, the CPSC Staff Report all confirm that the lead used to provide colorfastness to the pigment in synthetic turf is not a risk to children or anyone.  The reason is that the lead chromate is insoluble and encapsulated in plastic to prevent it from being absorbed by the body, or released into the environment.  According to calculations made in 2008 by forensic toxicologist at Aegis Sciences Corporation, Dr. David Black, a 50 lb. child would have to ingest over 100 lbs. of synthetic turf to be at risk of absorbing enough lead to equal the minimum threshold of elevated blood level.  The CPSC’s statement of safety, ‘young children are not at risk from exposure to lead in these fields,” applies to all synthetic turf, regardless of its lead content level;
• The industry began working with pigment manufacturers to develop pigments for synthetic turf that did not contain lead chromate, but would meet the industry’s rigorous standards for colorfastness and performance.  On July 30, 2008, the STC announced that its members that manufacture synthetic turf fibers had voluntarily agreed to reduce the amount of lead chromate in the pigments to the same level and according to the same timetable as Congress was imposing by new legislation on all children’s products. 

In fact, the industry eliminated the use of lead chromate in synthetic turf in 2009, well ahead of Congress’s final deadline for the toy industry.

There is incidental lead in crumb rubber – test results will typically show lead levels between “undetectable” and 50 ppm, compared to the federal standard for toys of 100 ppm and the California standard of 50 ppm.

To put this subject into context: trace amounts of lead are all around us, and in everyday household products. What’s important is ensuring that quantities of lead that might be harmful to health cannot be absorbed into the body. Lead chromate is overseen by the EPA and regulated by OSHA. It is encapsulated in nylon, polyethylene, and polypropylene fibers that tests confirm prevent its release into the human body and the environment.

The Synthetic Turf Council and the synthetic turf industry take very seriously the health, safety, and welfare of the millions of athletes and children that play every day on resilient, high performance synthetic turf sports fields and playgrounds. There can always be more research done, and the STC supports any future opportunities for independent, science-based research.

After the U.S. Consumer Product Safety (CPSC) issued a statement in 2008 that “young children are not at risk from exposure to lead in these synthetic turf fields,” the Synthetic Turf Council on behalf of its yarn manufacturers announced that it would voluntarily reduce lead levels from the pigments used to color synthetic turf. Lead free pigments have been used since 2009.

Recently, Lower Canada College, a leading K-12 private school in Montreal, Canada tested the crumb rubber infill in its new synthetic turf field and found the lead levels were undetectable. The analysis measured potential toxicity levels of the crumb rubber against the European Union’s EN 71-3 standards, which sets strict limits for various heavy metals in children’s toys.

There are many others who are equally confident, including national and international sports leagues, universities, public and private school systems, parks departments and municipalities that continue to make informed decisions to install synthetic turf.

“We are happy with the results because, together with the chemical science and research that is readily available, they confirm for us, our Board, and the parents of our students that our turf field is safe for children of all ages for play and competition,” said Christopher Shannon, Headmaster, Lower Canada College. “We offer this information to the entire Montreal community and to the Synthetic Turf Council to not only offer context and clarity to this issue, but to take on an advocacy role that relies on science, technology, research, testing and factual data."

“When we first considered installing a synthetic turf field, we conducted extensive due diligence investigating the safety of synthetic turf with crumb rubber infill. We knew we weren’t going to find one study that definitively proved their safety, so we reviewed the numerous studies that had been conducted in North America and Europe, all of which validated the human health and environmental safety of synthetic turf and crumb rubber infill. Nevertheless, in the wake of recent unfounded media speculation regarding the safety of this material and the concerns raised by parents as a result of that speculation, we decided to  fund our own laboratory analysis using a toxicology test that simulates the ingestion of the crumb rubber, and benchmarks the results against tough European standards for heavy metals in toys. The lab report clearly shows that the results were negligible compared to the standards. As a school with a strong focus on developing a global perspective, we felt we should seek the world’s highest standard.  The results are very comforting.”

Synthetic turf fields allow millions of children and people of all ages the opportunity to be active year-round in virtually all weather conditions. There is tremendous growth in all sectors of the industry – sports fields, landscape and recreation, municipalities and many other uses. In addition, a synthetic turf field conserves billions of gallons of water each year, avoids the use of pesticides and fertilizers, and recycles 25 million used car and truck tires that would otherwise end up in landfills.

Special Acknowledgement:

• Carpell Surfaces, an Act Global Partner, Field Builder
• Francois Hebert, DSSS Landscape Architect, Field Architect
• Labosport International, Testing Lab

The STC believes that reliable scientific data should be the foundation of any discussion regarding the safety of synthetic turf with crumb rubber infill. During the past two decades, there have been more than 60 technical studies and reports that review the health effects of crumb rubber as it pertains to toxicities from inhalation, ingestion and dermal contact, as well as cancer. These studies and reports were performed during the past 22 years by independent organizations such as: Connecticut Department of Health, Hofstra University, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and University of California Berkeley. The preponderance of evidence shows no negative health effects associated with crumb rubber in synthetic turf. As NBC factually reported, "there is no research directly linking crumb rubber exposure to cancer.”

According to a peer-reviewed report prepared for the Rubber Manufacturers Association by Cardno Chemrisk, Inc., an independent global scientific consulting firm, “regular exposure (e.g. regular play on ground rubber filled athletic fields) to ground rubber for the length of one’s childhood does not increase risk of cancer above levels considered by the state of California to be de minimus (i.e., a lifetime excess cancer risk of 1 in 1 million).” (August 1, 2013, page 14).

The STC supports the extensive scientific research already performed and any future opportunities for science-based research.

Crumb rubber used in synthetic turf systems should always meet or exceed the Synthetic Turf Council’s quality guidelines.

The STC website includes many of the studies on the human health and environmental safety of synthetic turf and crumb rubber.

Printer-friendly version: STC Response to NBC National News Story on Health Effects of Crumb Rubber in Synthetic Turf (PDF)

Extreme Sport Facilities

Oakland Raiders player, Jared Veldheer recently opened his PowerStrength Training Systems facility in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Veldheer and Performance Coach Mark Ehnis created the facility to help athletes unleash their full physical and mental potential. Together, they determined that synthetic grass would be the best solution for all of the heavy sled pushes, and agility and movement drills that take place in the gym.

"With all of the daily usage, the artificial grass still looks and feels great,” noted Veldheer.

Ken Karmie of ForeverLawn worked with Veldheer to complete the installation at the sports facility. "We are honored that Jared Veldheer chose SportsGrass by ForeverLawn as the turf choice for PowerStrength,” said Karmie. "We designed the synthetic turf for performance and durability, which is the perfect combination for Jared’s unique facility.”

Specialized Fitness and Recreation Facilities

A growing number of companies are installing synthetic grass for innovative and specialized fitness and wellness applications. Google recently contracted with Heavenly Greens in San Jose, California to install synthetic grass in its wellness center for its employees.

To give their patients and residents an outlet for all-weather and low maintenance recreation and fun, Scripps Hospital in San Diego, CA, Heritage Point Senior Living in Walnut Creek, CA, and a nursing home in Ft. Worth, TX turned to SynLawn in Dalton, GA to install synthetic grass putting greens.

People are finding new and creative ways to take advantage of the many benefits of synthetic grass. It’s a big reason why synthetic grass for landscape and recreation use has become the fastest growing segment of the market.

About the Synthetic Turf Council

"According to the Centers for Disease Control, obesity rates among children younger than five have doubled over the last two decades,” said Rick Doyle, President of the Synthetic Turf Council. "Synthetic grass playgrounds offer safe, resilient and accessible surfaces that can be used by kids year-round to increase physical activity levels.”

New synthetic grass playgrounds nationwide have reclaimed previously unusable spaces for the benefit of the community. Cumberland Park in Nashville, Tennessee was built on a former brown field industrial site adjacent to the Cumberland River reclaimed by park planners working closely with the Environmental Protection Agency and state environmental officials. With more than one million visitors expected annually, officials decided to install synthetic grass from ForeverLawn in heavy activity areas such as playgrounds and a climbing wall because of its durability, the option to incorporate safety features and ability to conserve water.

The City of Henderson Parks and Recreation Department in Nevada manages aquatics and recreation centers and boasts 54 neighborhood and community parks. However soaring summer temperatures caused cracks, separations, peeling and fading in the poured-in-place rubber surfaces used in the playgrounds. They turned to SYNLawn to replace dilapidated rubber surfaces in five parks with synthetic grass, create more attractive, safer play areas for young children and kids of all ages. Daycare facilities have also recognized the benefits of synthetic grass playgrounds, like Home Depot’s Early Childhood Development Center at its corporate offices in Atlanta, Georgia. Located at the base of a steep grade, the unique playground from ForeverLawn features synthetic grass hills and valleys and even a lazy river defined by the winding blue turf. Special padding under the turf creates fall safety zones and the entire playground is ADA accessible.

About the Synthetic Turf Council

"Pet turf is a rapidly expanding sector of the synthetic turf landscape market,” noted Synthetic Turf Council President Rick Doyle. "Engineered specifically for the needs of dogs, pet turf includes significant advances such as instantaneous drainage, simplification of waste removal, odor control and more that make it an especially versatile option.”

Benefiting the Environment

Collectively, the use of synthetic turf across the country saves billions of gallons of water each year. Pet facilities with the surface are being recognized for their environmental stewardship, like the Animal Community Center in Silicon Valley in Silicon Valley. It recently became the first Humane Society facility in America to achieve Gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) project from the U.S. Green Building Council. The installation of 30,000 square feet of synthetic turf from Heavenly Greens significantly contributed to the facility’s certification, as it eliminated the need for lawn fertilizers, reduced water consumption and enhanced sanitation.

Supporting Constant Play

Running, playing fetch and jumping by even one large dog can take its toll on grass. As a dog day camp, dozens of dogs use a play space throughout the day, seven days a week. Just ask ForeverLawn, who has served intense usage facilities like the Central Park Dog Park in Fremont, Calif., a 40,000 square foot dog park that is the largest of its kind in the country. When other parks are closing down during the winter months for maintenance, or sending dogs back to their cars covered in dirt and mud, the synthetic grass at Central Park Dog Park allows it to remain open, and mud-free, regardless of the weather. Conveniently located adjacent to Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, Paradise 4 Paws offers 24-hour access and often cares for the pets of busy business travelers. With its large indoor synthetic turf play area is packed both day and night, the dense construction of synthetic blades supports the demands of pets’ intense play.

Combining Surf and Turf

Lounging by the pool takes on a new meaning when your puppy can enjoy state-of-the-art play areas made safer and more sanitary with synthetic grass. Splash pads and pools are proving to encourage longer and more creative play among dogs without the muddy mess, such as the one at Morris Animal Inn in Morristown, NJ. It features a pool surrounded by specially designed synthetic turf as well as a whirlpool with eight adjustable jets. The turf drains excess water from the pool as well as animal urine, keeping the area as clean as possible.

About the Synthetic Turf Council

Based in Atlanta, the Synthetic Turf Council was founded in 2003 to promote the industry and to assist buyers and end users with the selection, use and maintenance of synthetic turf systems in sports field, golf, municipal parks, airports, landscape and residential applications. The organization is also a resource for current, credible, and independent research on the safety and environmental impact of synthetic turf. Membership includes builders, landscape architects, testing labs, maintenance providers, manufacturers, suppliers, installation contractors, infill material suppliers and other specialty service companies. For more information, visit www.syntheticturfcouncil.org.

"While synthetic turf is typically identified with athletic fields or landscaping, golf applications is a rapidly expanding sector of our industry,” said Rick Doyle, President of the Synthetic Turf Council. "Traditional golf courses and backyard greens have been incorporating synthetic grass to create an attractive, environmentally-friendly solution.”

Enhancing golf courses

While many golf courses are recognized for their spectacular landscapes, concerns have been raised about the amount of water needed to keep venues green. A June 2008 National Public Radio story called "Water-Thirsty Golf Courses Need to Go Green” reported "Audubon International estimates that the average American golf course uses 312,000 gallons of water per day. In a place like Palm Springs, where 57 golf courses challenge the desert, each course eats up a million gallons a day. That is, each course each day in Palm Springs consumes as much water as an American family of four uses in four years.”

As Andy White of Challenger Industries explains, "more golf facilities are turning to synthetic tee lines to save water and create relief for natural grass that can’t sustain daily play.” He cites the example of Signal Mountain Golf & Country Club in Tennessee, whose switch to synthetic grass tee lines has made the driving range more usable for all players.

Synthetic grass has also been used to improve the aesthetics of high-use areas. Pebble Beach Golf Links in Monterey County, California, host of five U.S. Open Championships, is considered to be one of the greatest public golf courses in America. When the worn car path behind the 18^th hole needed to be modified prior to the mid-August start of 2011 Classic Car Week, they turned to Synthetic Turf International to match ground colors and install synthetic grass in the area, reducing maintenance needs in the process.

Installing backyard golf facilities

Any golfer will improve their game with practice. Now a growing number of enthusiasts are installing synthetic grass greens in their backyards to increase practice time without leaving the comfort of home.

"While most homes will buy a 1,000 to 1,500 foot green, we are now installing 50 to 60 full-blown par3’s a year with proper tee boxes,” notes Henry van Antwerp of Synthetic Turf International, which has installed about 4,500 backyard golf facilities. "This trend represents how serious golfers will customize their ultimate practice experience in the future.”

TurfDIRECT in Scottsdale, Arizona recently helped a client turn non-usable areas of his backyard into an entertainment complex for the whole family. They built a complete par 3 course, with a 72 yard approach shot from the tee box. Adding lush synthetic grass to the desertscape has also allowed the family to enjoy activities like volleyball and bocce ball.

A growing selection of portable synthetic grass golf greens appeal to players at all levels. SYNLawn has partnered with golf researcher and teaching professional Dave Pelz to create a line of do-it-yourself putting greens to allow users to practice their short game in their home or office.

Making golf accessible

Synthetic grass installations and innovations are making golf accessible for more people. Last year, Heavenly Greens completed a 12,000 sq ft installation for the Golf Learning Center at Visitacion Valley Middle School in San Francisco. The first of its kind nationwide, the Learning Center was purposely built in one of San Francisco’s most under-served communities to help bring golf to inner city youth as part of the First Tee Program of San Francisco. Based in San Jose, California, Heavenly Greens calculated that as of 2010, their synthetic turf golf and landscape installations have conserved a billion gallons of water in Northern California.

UltraBaseSystems™ of St. Petersburg, Florida works with Adventure Golf Services to convert under-utilized tennis courts into golf facilities. Take Fort Sill, Oklahoma for example. The military base wanted to create more recreation opportunities for on-site military and their families. Within a day or so, they were able to convert unused tennis courts into a golf practice and teaching facility that can accommodate 20 people at once instead of just four tennis players.

About the Synthetic Turf Council

"Parks and playgrounds featuring synthetic turf create safe, accessible and resilient playing surfaces for kids with a diversity of needs – the same surfaces that elite athletes play on,” noted Rick Doyle, President of the Synthetic Turf Council. "The opportunity to increase physical activity is critical for the fitness, well-being and self-esteem of youth.”

Synthetic turf promotes inclusive recreation for kids with disabilities and physical challenges since wheelchairs roll easily and crutches won’t sink into park surfaces. In 2009, the City of Lakeland Parks & Recreation Department in Lakeland, Florida opened Common Ground, its first playground featuring unique play experiences for children of varying physical and cognitive abilities. Serving over 17,000 children, the innovative park features over 25,000 square feet of synthetic turf play zones. Taylor’s Dream Boundless Playground in Fort Wayne, Indiana opened in June 2011 after years of grassroots fundraising to offer amazing play opportunities for children with and without disabilities. Both parks feature an accessible, ASTM safety-rated surface called Playground Grass created by ForeverLawn.

"We have some fabulous facilities -- but this synthetic grass sets our Boundless Playground apart from all the others!” said Sarah Nichter of the Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation Department. "Not only beautiful, it also gives children and adults with disabilities the chance to play with their peers. I believe this type of surfacing will become a standard for many playgrounds in the future."

Parks are able to significantly increase capacity and conserve millions of gallons of water annually by using synthetic turf, like the Athenia Steel Recreation Complex in Clifton, New Jersey. Vacant for many years after a defunct steel company closed, the environmentally challenged land was cleaned-up and reclaimed in April 2011. Today the Complex features three multi-purpose synthetic turf fields by AstroTurf® that provide unprecedented opportunities for youth soccer, football and lacrosse programs.

Schools with synthetic grass playgrounds are seeing a difference too. Located in an economically challenged area with a concrete playground, students at John Wister Elementary School in Philadelphia were often in the nurse’s office with scrapes and other injuries. According to Principal Donna Smith, test scores increased by 20%, kids’ self-esteem skyrocketed, and parental involvement increased after the synthetic turf play area and field was installed in 2010. A new playground at Chinle Elementary School in Chinle, Arizona, the latest in a series of facility improvements being made at Navajo Nation schools, has been embraced by students and faculty. Since more than 30% of the Navajo population is diabetic, the ForeverLawn playground comes at a time when many are stressing the importance of exercise on the reservation.

While many homeowners have turned to synthetic grass for aesthetic reasons and to conserve water, their kids are also benefitting from more durable backyard play spaces. Just ask five- year-old twins Makenzie and Makayla Creasey of Lexington, North Carolina. Their family, spotlighted in a January, 2010 episode of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” following their mom’s courageous battle with colon cancer, received a beautiful new home. But the twins were most enthusiastic about their new, state-of-the-art synthetic grass playground area donated and installed by Synthetic Grass Warehouse.

About the Synthetic Turf Council