Los Alamos County is considering following Sullivan Field’s footsteps and installing artificial turf at up to five of its athletic fields. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com

Could the use of grass on athletic fields dry up and die? Los Alamos County’s Community Services Department is pondering this idea through a series of public listening sessions aimed at collecting thoughts from residents and field users about replacing sod with artificial turf on up to five athletic fields around the County.

According to the project’s public information and involvement implementation plan, contractor NV5 is studying the advantages of installing artificial turf at the North Mesa ball fields and Overlook Park. The study is in response to the community’s desire and need to access the fields early in the season. For instance, high school baseball and softball start Feb. 1 each year and accessibility of the local fields can be challenging.

Additionally, it is reported in the plan, was a project identified and recommended in the Community Services Department’s Integrated Master Plan. This study NV5 is conducting will include recommendations including field alignment, construction and ADA compliance, Parks Superintendent Wendy Parker said. To make it an effective study, NV5 is hosting a series of listening sessions. The most recent session was held Jan. 30. Others will be scheduled although the dates are not yet known. A survey is also available on the County’s website and will be open through Feb. 7.

The expected deadline for the study is July. Parker said it will be presented to the Parks and Recreation Board, which will weigh in on the next steps for the project and ultimately, the County Council will consider “whether this is something the County should move forward on,” Parker said.

As far as what the listening session attendees have voiced about artificial turf, she said, “to date we really haven’t heard much opposition.”

If people need a clear idea of what the proposed artificial turf would look like, Parker points to the football and soccer field at Sullivan Field.

There are pros and cons to installing artificial turf, according to NV5 engagement sessions, the following information has been discussed.

Pros include:

• The playing season would be extended;
• The fields would be easier to maintain because there would be less water use and a reduced need for pest management; and
  
• It is more appealing to sport teams because it makes games more competitive, there is less fear of sliding on artificial turf, travel is reduced during the winter months when teams go to locations where there is artificial turf and it makes local facilities comparable to out-of-town sport facilities.

Cons include:

• Artificial turf can get hot in the summer months; and
  
• There could be safety and environmental concerns with using man-made materials.

So, just what is artificial turf? Parker explained it is synthetic fibers, backing material and infill. She added that the technology for the synthetic fibers has improved over the years.

While maintenance would be less demanding than natural grass, Parker pointed out that the turf would need to be watered to remove dust particles and work would need to be done to remove stains such as blood. She added that the life span of artificial turf is fairly long – from seven to 10 years.

Regarding specifics of maintenance the local fields would require; Parker said that isn’t known. It varies depending on the brand purchased and the maintenance standards provided. There are a lot of factors yet to be decided on, the cost is not determined nor design for the artificial turf fields.

However, Parker did say at a future listening session, NV5 plans to show different scenarios of what the artificial turf fields would look like.

Whether or not the natural grass fields get a makeover remains to be seen but Parker said she feels it is an option worth investigating. While artificial turf isn’t a huge national trend there are conversations in the Major League Baseball and National Football League about natural grass versus artificial grass.

As far as whether one is superior to the other, “it really depends on your location and what your community supports … I think it is nice for the community to have an option for both,” Parker said.

While the option for artificial turf gets mused, Parker said maintenance will continue on the existing fields. She said a three-year field renovation project is being followed. This includes replacing sod, laser-grading the fields to ensure they are level and drain properly and replacing/adjusting the irrigation so the entire fields are being watered.

For more information on the artificial turf study, visit https://www.losalamosnm.us/County-Projects/Artificial-Turf-Study.