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PRESERVE THE DREAM

Our community is concerned with post-fire air and ground toxicity, but many are neglecting one crucial thing.

 

But as we begin to rebuild, an ironic and dangerous proposal has emerged: covering our children’s playing fields with artificial turf —a plastic product laced with toxic chemicals. At a moment when we are worried about contamination in our soil and air, the idea of importing and installing new sources of toxins into the very ground where our children play is simply unthinkable.

Protect the Field of Dreams — Keep Pacific Palisades Parks Natural, Safe, and PFAS-Free.

After the Palisades Fire, our community is rebuilding — but one proposal would replace our living fields with plastic turf that threatens our soil, water, and health. Resilient Palisades is working with environmental and public health partners to keep our parks safe, natural, and sustainable.

 

Our parks and open spaces are vital for our community—they are places where children play, where families gather, and where our local ecosystems thrive. As we plan for the future of these spaces, we have an important choice to make: plastic artificial turf or healthy, natural grass.

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For the health of our children, our community, and our environment, we are advocating for natural grass.

The Hidden Dangers of Artificial Turf

Artificial turf is not the simple, clean solution it appears to be. Made from layers of plastic fibers, rubber, and chemical additives, these surfaces carry serious health and environmental risks that are now well-documented by scientists and state agencies.​

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  • Toxic Chemicals and PFAS (“Forever Chemicals”)  Artificial turf contains PFAS, a class of synthetic chemicals linked to cancer, thyroid disease, and immune dysfunction.

    A 2024 report by California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and analyses by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) found PFAS in both the blades and backing of turf fields, along with lead, zinc, benzothiazoles, and phthalates. These toxins can be inhaled, ingested, or absorbed through skin, especially by children playing on the fields.     

    Even so-called “next-generation” or “plant-based” turfs marketed as safer alternatives still rely on plastic polymers that shed microplastics and release volatile compounds when exposed to heat and sunlight.
     

  • No Safe Disposal Pathway  Once installed, artificial turf becomes hazardous waste.
    It must be replaced every 8–10 years, and there is no safe way to recycle or dispose of it. PEER reports that discarded turf leaches toxins in landfills and releases hazardous byproducts if incinerated. Each field adds tens of thousands of pounds of plastic waste to our environment.
     

  • Threat to Our Waterways  Rainwater runoff from artificial turf carries PFAS, heavy metals, and microplastics into local storm drains that flow directly to Temescal Creek and Santa Monica Bay.

    This pollution threatens marine life and contaminates the very waters our community works so hard to protect.

    Keeping our parks natural directly supports Resilient Palisades’ larger efforts to restore healthy soil, reduce runoff, and protect our watershed.
     

  • Extreme Heat and Player Safety Unlike living grass, artificial turf absorbs and traps heat, creating surface temperatures between 160°F and 200°F on hot days—hotter than asphalt. These extreme temperatures can cause burns, heat stroke, and respiratory stress, especially for children and athletes.

    The Santa Clara County Medical Association and the National Center for Health Research have both warned that turf surfaces lead to more frequent and more severe injuries, including concussions and joint damage, compared to natural grass.

The Natural, Sustainable Alternative

Instead of a plastic field, we can create a high-performance, organically managed natural grass field that is safe, resilient, and environmentally sound.

Natural grass—when designed and maintained using modern regenerative practices—improves over time, strengthens soil biology, and supports both play and ecosystem health.
 

  • Safety for Our Children Natural grass provides a cooler, softer, and non-toxic playing surface that keeps our kids safe from chemical exposure, burns, and heat stress.

    Unlike synthetic turf, natural grass does not shed microplastics, contain PFAS, or off-gas volatile compounds. It’s a truly healthy environment for children and families to play, learn, and connect outdoors.

  • Better for Our Watershed Living grass and soil act as a natural filter—absorbing rainwater, reducing runoff, and recharging groundwater.

    Using data from the Living Infrastructure Field Kit developed by Accelerate Resilience LA, our team estimates that restoring a natural grass field at the Palisades Recreation Center could capture and filter more than 1.8 million gallons of stormwater each year.​

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That’s water that would otherwise carry toxins straight into the ocean.
 

  • Regenerative and Resilient by Design By using organically managed, locally adapted grass hybrids, we can build a field that is both high-performance and sustainable.

    Recommended options for our coastal climate include:​
     

    • Zoysia: Durable, low water use, and self-repairing.

    • Seashore Paspalum: Excellent salt tolerance and ideal for coastal fields.

    • Kikuyu: Withstands heavy traffic and regenerates quickly.

    • Bermuda hybrids: Proven for sports performance under organic care.​

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These living systems cool naturally, support pollinators, and strengthen soil life. Over time, they reduce water use, lower maintenance costs, and eliminate the need for chemical fertilizers or pesticides.

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  • A Better Investment Full life-cycle analyses show that natural grass fields cost less to maintain and replace than artificial turf.

    While turf must be replaced every 8–10 years at enormous cost and environmental impact, a well-managed natural field lasts for decades—improving with each season as the soil grows stronger and healthier.

    By choosing natural grass, we not only protect our community’s health but also invest in a future that’s cooler, greener, and truly sustainable.

Join Us to Preserve the Dream

Our community’s Field of Dreams is more than a playing field — it’s a living part of our shared story. It’s where our children grow up, our families gather, and our connection to nature begins.

Installing plastic turf would replace that living ecosystem with plastic and pollution. Together, we can protect this space — and set a statewide example for PFAS-free, climate-resilient parks.

Resilient Palisades’ “Preserve the Dream” campaign brings neighbors, scientists, parents, and public health leaders together to protect our parks, our water, and our children.

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How You Can Help
 

  •  Sign our community letter opposing artificial turf at the Field of Dreams.

  •  Spread the word — share this page and talk to neighbors, coaches, and parents about why natural grass matters.

  •  Donate to help us fund public education and native landscape restoration.
     

By choosing living, regenerative solutions, we keep our parks safe, cool, and truly green — for our children and for generations to come.
 

Join us to Preserve the Dream. Keep Pacific Palisades fields natural, safe, and PFAS-free.

 

Resources & Evidence

Government & Scientific Reports

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Local Data & Campaign Materials
 

  • Living Infrastructure Field Kit (Accelerate Resilience LA, 2025): Modeled 1.8M gallons of annual stormwater capture if the Palisades field remains natural.
     

  • Preserve the Dream Campaign: Working with Heal the Bay, Palisades Forestry Committee, Santa Monica’s HSPF, and local schools to promote PFAS-free, regenerative fields.
     

  • Field of Dreams Petition: Sign the community letter →

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