Grass or Artificial Turf? Oceanside Weighs Pros and Cons

Artificial turf is not the way to squeeze more time out of Oceanside’s playing fields, members of the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission said last week. Health concerns, maintenance costs, and the disposal of the worn-out plastic all need more study, said Commissioner Diane Strader. Several of the commissioners said the city should build more grass fields, not install fake turf on existing ones. The Oceanside City Council asked staffers on Dec. 4 to study the feasibility of using artificial turf at some parks as a way to get more play time on the existing fields. Parks and Recreation Division Manager Mark Olson presented a report to the commission last week and it’s tentatively set for a presentation at the council’s March 25 meeting.