Friends of the Parks

Unresolved Environmental Issues

The Chicago Park District has constructed 5 artificial turf soccer fields (River Park, Lincoln Park at Montrose and in the south campus, Marquette, and Douglas Parks).  Other artificial turf fields are underway in the west region at Kedvale Park, and in the north region at Greenbaum Park.

The use of artificial turf for soccer fields is a fairly new trend in Chicago parks with the construction of the first artificial turf soccer field in Lincoln Park just over a decade ago.

The basic arguments for the replacement of natural grass fields with artificial turf include lower maintenance costs and a longer playing season.

As the popularity of soccer grew rapidly in Chicago, both in adult and children’s leagues, there has been increased use of the natural grass soccer fields in many parks.  This extremely heavy use of the Park District’s soccer fields extended throughout the year resulting in the destruction of the natural grass fields.  Many of the soccer fields were turned into dirt fields.  The Park District does not have an adequate field maintenance and management plan in place to insure that the fields were routinely closed on a rotated schedule to allow for regeneration and necessary restoration of the grass.  In addition, the non-enforcement of no-play-rain-days meant that teams played in rain and damaged or destroyed the natural grass fields.

Instead of increased maintenance, rotated closure of fields for regeneration and enforcement of permit requirements, the Park District turned to artificial turf fields in parks.   The first artificial turf field was installed in Lincoln Park field at Montrose a decade ago.  In 2004 three other artificial turf soccer fields were constructed in city parks in Douglas Park, 1401 S. Sacramento Ave., Marquette Park, 6734 S. Kedzie Ave., and River Park, 5100 N. Francisco Ave.

The Lincoln Park field at Montrose was constructed with capital improvement dollars.  The fields in Douglas and Marquette Parks were funded primarily with private dollars from the Nike Corporation¹  and include the Nike swoosh in the center of the playfield.  The fourth soccer field in River Park was funded in part by North Park University².   The Chicago Public Schools have 4 artificial turf fields located at Senn High School, Goudy Elementary, Pierce Elementary and Swift Elementary, all within the North region.

Historical Perspective on the Use of Artificial Turf in Chicago’s Parks

The Chicago Park District constructed the first soccer field in the 1990’s using artificial turf to replace a natural grass soccer field in Lincoln Park.  The grass soccer field located north of Montrose was used almost daily 9 months a year by adult soccer leagues.  The overuse of the soccer field coupled by the less than adequate maintenance of the field and the lack of enforcement of permit requirements resulted in the natural grass being worn down to bare dirt and mud.

The Park District spent a million in capital dollars to install the artificial turf field.  Later lighting was added to allow for increased usage at night.  The adult soccer teams pay to rent the field nearly 9-10 months a year.

In 2004, the North Park University proposed a public/private partnership to construct an artificial turf soccer field in West River Park.  North Park University, Park District, Chicago Board of Education each contributed $500,000 and the city provided $250,000 to cover the $1.75 million construction costs.  In exchange for the half-million contribution, North Park University was given a lease to use the field for their soccer needs, in fall and spring, primarily.  The Park District had use of the soccer field in summer.  In the case of the North Park University’s soccer field, the West River Park community and Friends of the Parks opposed the construction of the artificial turf soccer field primarily for a private university.  The policy of public trust of parkland was seen as violated.

Also in 2004 Nike announced a commitment to construct 4 soccer fields in Chicago, each valued at $1 million.  Two soccer fields have been constructed to date in Douglas and Marquette Parks.  Each of the fields was constructed using Field Turf synthetic grass.

In late 2006, the Park District entered into an agreement with the Latin School of Chicago to construct an artificial turf soccer field in the south fields of Lincoln Park.   The community and Friends of the Parks opposed the agreement because it essentially gave public parkland to a private institution for its primary use.  A group called Protectors of Parks (POP) filed suit.  The Illinois courts agreed with POP and halted the construction.   The court ruled that the Park District alienated public land with the Latin School contract and said the field, if constructed, must be public.  In addition, any new soccer field plan required the approval of the Chicago Plan Commission.  The Plan Commission approved the plan in August and construction of the public soccer field.  The artificial turf field was dedicated on November 1, 2008.

The 2007-2011 Park District capital improvement plan states a goal of constructing 5 new artificial turf soccer fields.   In November, 2007, the Park District announced a deal with the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) to construct 2 artificial turf soccer fields in Lincoln Park just south of Foster.  “Additional soccer fields are planned for 24th and Federal; as part of a State Grant and CPS; Calumet Park, 9801 S. Avenue G, which will be funded by Chicago Park District capital dollars; Riis Park, 6100 W. Fullerton Ave., which will be funded by City of Chicago TIF funds; and McKinley Park, 2210 W. Pershing Rd., which will be funded by the Parkways foundation through its partnership with the Lollapalooza Festival”  (in 2005, Lollapalooza donated $400,000 to Parkways Foundation to go toward local parks).

Maintenance Issues of Sports Fields

Natural grass soccer fields require regular mowing, irrigation, daily trash pick-up, seasonal aeration and reseeding.  In order to maintain natural turf, the soccer fields need to be well managed including the closure of soccer fields on a rotated basis for regeneration.  In addition, soccer fields should be closed to play on rainy days and in winter when the greatest damage can be done.

In Chicago’s parks, the Park District does not close soccer fields except when new sod has been installed.  Because of the heavy demand for soccer fields, the Park District does not enforce the rules of no play when the fields are wet and in winter and the fields are easily damaged.  The lack of an adequate maintenance program and lack of rotation of fields from play has resulted in the deterioration of soccer fields throughout the system.

In New York’s Central Park, the Central Park Conservancy closes the Central Park fields all winter until April.  During the spring, summer and fall, the Conservancy managers close the fields on a rotating basis for the restoration of the fields.  Similarly, in New York’s Brooklyn area, the Prospect Park Alliance closes the fields in winter and rotates field closings to allow for regeneration of the natural grass.

The Chicago Park District does not secure fields in winter, nor does the District close the fields on a rotation basis during spring, summer and fall.   That, along with inadequate maintenance, has led soccer clubs and private schools to advocate for the construction of soccer fields using artificial turf.

Environmental Impacts of Artificial Turf

The benefits of artificial turf soccer fields include decreased maintenance and continuous use of the fields in all weather and seasons.

The cons to the increased use of artificial turf voiced by environmental and community groups are negative environmental impacts including the heat island effect of the artificial turf, the loss of natural grass to absorb water runoff, the loss of the psychological benefits of natural turf, the question of hazardous substances in the artificial turf, and the high capital cost of construction.

Hazardous substances

Artificial turf fields are constructed using up to ten tons of ground-up used tires, or rubber pebbles or granules, as in-fill.  The environmental concern is that tires typically contain toxic substances which prohibit their disposal in landfills.  So the question is whether the material is safe for children to play on.  In New York and Connecticut, some studies found hazardous substances on fields that exceeded the current allowed limits.  In a study by Dr. William Crane of the City University of New York and Dr. Junfeng Zhang of Rutgers University in 2006 found that the artificial turf in Riverside Park contained “polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and toxic metals.”  In the study, the levels of 6 PAHs found in the rubber pellets were above concentrations allowed.  In November, 2007 New York assemblyman Englebright introduced a bill prohibiting the installation of artificial turf until a complete study of the potential health impacts was completed.

Infections

An infection known as MRSA is a drug-resistant bacteria that was recently identified in the Chicago Tribune as a disease that kills more people in the United States than the AIDS virus.  MRSA begins with a skin lesion and can quickly spread through the body leading to serious illness and often to death.  MRSA can be transferred by contact on athletic equipment and gyms.

A study by the Centers for Disease Control found that athletes who sustain a skin burn from artificial turf were “seven times more likely to develop MRSA infection”.   Another study published in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology in 2000 found that “MRSA survives better on artificial turf than on other surfaces”.

Heat Island Effect

The replacement of natural turf with artificial turf contributes to the heat island effect.  Grass and trees reduce the heat island effect by retaining water and reflecting sunlight.  Artificial turf is made of plastic that absorbs sunlight and emits heat.  Last summer, a study in New York City found the “temperature above artificial turf fields measured at 140 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit, creating what was described as “heat islands”.  The New York study found that artificial turf “surfaces are among the hottest possible for urban areas, rivaling dark roofs and fresh asphalt”.

Loss of habitat

Natural turf not only filters rainwater and airborne pollution and cools the city, it provides habitat for insects, plants, and other organisms, and provides food for birds.  Thousands of birds migrate along the lakefront migratory bird flyway and depend on the lakefront trees, shrubs and natural turf for food and habitat to survive the long migration.

Recommendation

The city’s Department of Environment should complete a study on the effects of artificial turf on the health and well-being of children and adults who regularly play on soccer fields made of artificial turf.

¹In a press release dated, the Nike Corporation stated that it planned to install 4 soccer fields in Chicago.  To date, only two have been constructed.

²Friends of the Parks and the local community opposed the construction of the field in River Park.