Have you ever gone to a game at a South Florida school and wondered about what’s going on under the players’ feet?
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Well it turns out the choice between using real grass or artificial turf for a field is about more than looks.
Experts say there are several factors schools need to consider, from location and purpose to cost, maintenance, safety and environmental impact.
“We shouldn’t think of it as two surfaces, competing against each other. Both have benefits and both have disadvantages. And more importantly, both have an environmental footprint,” Santiago Olarte, a landscape architect with Biolandis, said.
Artificial turf has become popular here in South Florida because it can reduce the need for maintenance, watering and mowing compared to natural grass. But the heat generated by the synthetic surface has become a concern.
How hot can artificial turf get?
One of the main concerns raised by some parents is the temperature artificial turf can reach, especially during the hottest months in South Florida.
Olarte says artificial turf can absorb significant amounts of heat.
“Artificial grass has become popular here in South Florida because it provides benefits in the reduction of maintenance, watering, and mowing of a natural grass. However, there is a big concern about the use of a heat absorbing synthetic surface,” he said.
Jackie González, president of the Parent-Teacher Association in Miami-Dade, says concerns about turf temperature and student injuries were raised during a recent school board meeting, but there isn’t enough data to determine the extent of the issue.
She said though concerns were brought up about “students getting hurt,” officials “don’t have any data or statistics on how many those actually are.”
Artificial turf can get much hotter than the air temperature, and Ilan Shapiro, chief medical officer at AltaMed, says prolonged exposure to extremely hot surfaces can damage the skin.
“Usually when it reaches 125 degrees Fahrenheit, they would take around 10 minutes of exposure to actually get that first-degree burn. But, if it goes above 140, 160, it will take a couple of seconds to actually have damage to the skin,” he said.
Which option costs more?
But safety isn’t the only factor schools are considering. Cost can also play a major role in the decision.
Olarte says artificial turf generally costs more to install than natural grass.
“Artificial turf is usually more expensive,” he said. “We can talk around $8 per square feet, while natural grass can be around $2 square feet.”
So, what could that mean for an average school football field?
Abel Abad, with Monster Grass South Florida, estimates the initial cost could vary significantly depending on the option selected.
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“I would say anywhere from $150,000 to $250,000,” he said. “And, if they do natural probably will be a third of that, like 45, 50 [thousand dollars].”
What about maintenance?
While the initial cost of artificial turf is higher, natural grass also requires ongoing maintenance.
According to the Sports Turf Managers Association, annual maintenance for natural grass athletic fields can range from $13,000 to $30,000.
Abad says artificial turf can offer more consistency throughout the year.
“If you want something that is going to last, that is going to look nice the whole year, artificial grass is your option,” he said.
But González says the PTA and PTSA have not taken a position on which option is best.
“The PTA, PTSA doesn’t have an exact position on it. There’s not enough data and research that has been presented for us to have a decision on whether, turf is the best option or another alternative for schools,” she said.
Could there be a third option?
So, what could be the solution?
According to the landscaping experts we spoke to, it could be a combination of both natural and artificial grass, along with vegetation and shade.
Abad says combining the two could provide schools with some of the benefits of each option.
“I think that a mix in between artificial grass areas with natural grass as well, and especially plants like trees and stuff [would be ideal],” he said. “It will be ideal for schools because they’re going to offer the convenience of artificial grass, and they also will have the natural grass look that everybody also likes.”
Olarte says thoughtful landscape design can also help create cooler and more comfortable outdoor spaces by “using vegetation, water, shade, soil and natural processes to create microclimates that are going to have a distinct lower temperature and moisture, and improving outdoor thermal comfort.”
The school board is set to revisit this subject in December and make a recommendation based on its findings.
But in the end, it will be up to each school to decide whether changes are needed based on its budget and conversations with parents.
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