Installation of Synthetic Turf in Burlington City Parks

The issue:

BurlingtonGreen has received public inquiries regarding the city’s decision to install artificial (synthetic) turf in our city’s sports fields.  This is what we have managed to learn on this issue so far and further below you will find our current position on the matter.

On October 19, 2010 Michelle Bennett (BurlingtonGreen Board of Director) contacted Rob Peachey ( Parks and Open Spaces Manager), and asked the following:  

“Reviewing the Parks website, only the Orchard Park field is currently mentioned regarding having a synthetic playing surface installed yet I do believe other park field sites are also slated for installation.  Multiple requests for information and relays of concern have come to BurlingtonGreen about the installation of synthetic sports fields throughout Burlington. 

• Can you itemize the community engagement process that has taken place and the current status of which sports fields have been chosen to have an synthetic surface installed, or that already have one installed. 
• Can you please relay the economic and environmental research that staff prepared for Committee and Council to make this decision to install this type of playing surface. 
•  Does the city have any jurisdiction over what the school boards plan for their fields, for instance if the property is considered both a community park as well as school park (Alton, Nelson)?  
• New City Park seems to be a special case since the development application has been appealed.  Has any new information come forward since the Oct. 5th hearing specifically about synthetic turf installation?  Our understanding is that no other park of the 130 protected by the Niagara Escarpment Plan Open Space System (NEPOSS) has synthetic turf.   The park as part of the Niagara Escarpment is UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve designated which aims to "maintain, ensure, protect and preserve" the natural environment for future generations. Can you explain how synthetic turf fits into this 'designation'? One suggestion that has been made that might mitigate negative feelings towards synthetic turf installation would be to NOT use asphalt paving for the considerable parking areas.  Can this idea be seriously considered?”

On November 18, 2010 Rob Peachey provided the following response: "There are several artificial turf fields planned for Burlington to be constructed in 2011, including 2 at Norton Community Park (Dundas/Tim Dobbie) and 2 at New City Park (Dundas/Kerns).  A third artificial turf field is planned for New City Park in the future.   The use of artificial turf for these parks was determined early in the design process and presented at public consultation sessions for each project.   Existing artificial turf fields include 1 that has been recently constructed at Orchard Community Park and 2 at Sherwood Forest Park.  A report outlining some of the benefits and a cost analysis was prepared in 2008 (attached).  Generally the advantages are as follows:

• Artificial turf fields can withstand continuous use, whereas natural turf fields require rest periods to allow turf to recover.  This provides more playing time for user groups.
• Use can be extended into the shoulder seasons of spring and fall, extending the opportunity to use the fields by up to 3 months.
• Artificial turf fields can be used immediately following rainfall, whereas natural turf fields require a period of no use while the field dries out.
• Artificial turf fields provide a high quality, consistent and reliable playing surface.
• Environmental benefits are that: no water is required for irrigation, no fertilizers are required, no gas powered mowers are required (grooming is required, but less frequently than mowing).

New City Park is designated as `Recreation’ within the Niagara Escarpment Parks and Open Space System (NEPOSS).  A park management plan was prepared to meet requirements for NEPOSS parks, which included reference to the potential use of artificial turf for one or more of the sports fields.  The park management plan was approved by the Niagara Escarpment Commission on September 17, 2009 and by the Ministry of Natural Resources on February 9, 2010 as being in conformity with the Niagara Escarpment Plan.  

At this time the Environmental Tribunal has not provide a decision, so further information is not available."

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In the report of PR 05/08 dated June 26, 2008, as referenced above by Mr. Peachey the majority of the content focuses on user and financial benefits with the following paragraph addressing “Environmental Matters”:   "Since artificial turf does not require an irrigation system,there is opportunity to save a significant amount of water. As a comparison, the irrigation of 2 sportsfields at Orchard Community Park uses approximately 3,600 cubic metres of water per season. Other environmental considerations include no need for fertilizers and opportunity to recycle certain components of the artificial turf at the time of renewal”.

Outstanding questions:

1.  Product analysis must include research and reporting of the product's life cycle. ie. environmental consideration to water & energy usage for installed turf has been briefly referenced in the report but there is no information pertaining to the water and energy used in the production , maintenance or disposal of artifical turf? "Artificial turf releases more greenhouse gases in its production, transportation and processing than the maintenance of natural turf ever would."”The report includes "opportunity to recycle certain components of the artificial turf at the time of renewal". So what is the specific plan here? What planning is in place to dispose of or recycle the large areas of turf at the end of their use? Would some material be disposed of in landfill and if so, are there financial and environmental costs associated with this?  Are there any environmental implications with potential leaching of the product composite into the land and water under and around the fields? http://www.njea.org/pdfs/HS_GrassTurf_May08.pdf

2. How do artificial turf field installations fit into the city's larger plan? Is the planning for this product installation effectively captured in the City's Parks & Recreation Master Plan? If so,does it include projections of how many current playfields may be replaced with the artificial product in the future? Is there an assessment process in place when this product is to be considered for city locations without current playfields? ie. artificial turf installations on natural park locations such as the New City park on the Niagara Escarpment. 

3. Is the product safe and do Burlington citizens know this? There is no mention in the report of research regarding possible health risks of this product. This is surprising given the controversy of product use in other places in North America. We may all agree that providing more opportunities during the year for citizens to recreate and be healthy is positive, but we should also agree that we must have assurance that there are no health risks associated with the installation, playfield use , maintenance and disposal of this product. This needs to be researched and effectively communicated to the citizens of Burlington.

4. Process concerns: Review of the report consultation list indicates that the Environment Department, Environment Planner, Sustainable Development citizen advisory committee were not consulted on this issue. It also appears that public consultation was specific to user groups and not the general public nor the surrounding neighbourhoods.

Future Guidelines:    The staff report PR 05/08 recommendation accepted by Council was to amend the Norton Park plan after it had already been approved with grass playing fields to allow for artificial turf instead. An additional recommendation was that the (report's) analysis be referred to the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Master Plan in order to inform the development of new parks and redevelopment of existing parks.   The limited analysis and public consultation included in this staff report was specific to one park and therefore should not be considered applicable to the development of new parks (like New City Park) or redevelopment of various parks sites going forward.  

Our position:

BurlingtonGreen’s position is that the city should not proceed with any additional artificial turf installations until more comprehensive research is conducted on the environmental, financial and health considerations of this product and that the findings be effectively communicated to the citizens of Burlington. We also recommend that this issue be included in the upcoming strategic plan with equal consideration, effort and supporting research provided for the social, economic and environmental implications and benefits. The Strategic plan process should also include habitat context identifying which locations in Burlington, if any, can support the installation of this product from an environmental perspective.

Action steps:

• BurlingtonGreen sent this letter to our elected officials and relevant city staff on January 20, 2011 
• the City of Burlington hosted a related public information meeting about residential use of artificial turf on January 26.
• Feb 2, 2011: BurlingtonGreen sent a letter to City staff overseeing residential use issue to ask that thorough analytical research be conducted and results shared with the citizens of Burlington
• Feb 2: BurlingtonGreen sent inquiries to both Halton school boards asking each to share any reports/research they may have conducted on the environmental, health and economic analysis of synthetic turf vs natural turf
• Feb 2 news item in Burlington Post. article here
• March 9, 2011-BurlingtonGreen submits letter to City staff , Mayor and Members of Council regarding city staff report recommending installation of artificial turf at Norton Park.
• March 9, 2011 - Mayor and Members of Council vote unanimously at Committee Mtg to support staff recommendation to install artificial turf at Norton Park - see staff report here
• March 20, 2011 - Letter to City Staff and members of Councill regarding Council's March 9 unanimous support to proceed with installation of artificial turf at Norton Park-letter
• March 21, 2011 - Response letter to BurlingtonGreen from City staff - letter (note: Council votes in support of staff recommendation to proceed with artificial turf installation at Norton Park)

December 2011 Update: City of Burlington report re: Request to Amend Zoning By-law 2020 to Permit Artificial Grass in Residential Front Yards - click here.

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