After a hot day at a local park, Laura Fay learns about the use of artificial turf.
Parks serve as a vital resource that often attempt to replicate the sensory harmony found in natural settings. They can offer nature-fueled breaks from our fast-paced lives, featuring tree shade, rest areas, and opportunities for sports and play.
But some time ago, I started to notice the growing presence of artificial turf and pour-in-place rubber surfaces in the parks. Cities and schools cited more accessible play days, safety and lower maintenance cost as the primary reasons to install them.
I wondered about the heat. So, on a recent 82 degree-day, I took my infrared thermometer to the artificial turf field at my local park. The surface temperature was staggering 141 degrees, and the nearby rubber playground surface clocked in at a blistering 146. Not surprisingly, there was not a child in sight. In that moment, I had a new realization. These surfaces had rendered the park unusable.
This set me on a path to learn that, beyond the heat, these petro-chemical based materials expose us to harmful forever-chemicals, exacerbate urban heat islands and negatively impact surrounding vegetation, before eventually get consigned to the landfill. What’s framed as progress by a multi-billion-dollar industry is quietly turning our beloved parks into sizable health and environmental hazards.