Fwd: Tell LAUSD Artificial Turf Is Not the Answer

[Linda Hutchins-Knowles]

I’m not sure if this group was copied… See below if you’re interested in artificial turf (plastic grass).

Linda

Begin forwarded message:

From: Terry Saucier <terrys...@gmail.com>

Subject: Tell LAUSD Artificial Turf Is Not the Answer

Date: April 22, 2026 at 5:04:45 PM PDT

To: undisclosed-recipients:;

Dear Friends,

 

Happy Earth Day!

 

It’s been a while, and we wanted to share a quick update on our ongoing efforts to ban new and replacement installations of artificial turf across all applications because of its harmful impacts on human health, the environment, and wildlife.

 

We are continuing to meet with Los Angeles City agencies named in the artificial turf motion (CF 24-0602), including LAUSD, LASAN/LADWP, and RAP, as well as Councilmembers and environmental justice/social justice organizations. Some agencies are now finalizing their draft reports, so this is an important moment to show broad public support for a ban. Together, our voices can make a real difference.

 

ACTION ITEM

Tell LAUSD: Artificial turf does not belong on school campuses

 

LAUSD will no longer install artificial turf at early education, elementary, and middle schools, and put a hold on high school installations, pending the outcome of their Turf Study to examine the future of natural grass and synthetic turf on high school athletic fields.

 

This is a key opportunity to let LAUSD know that plastic grass is not a safe or sustainable solution for our schools. Key concerns include its impacts on human health, air, water, and soil quality, chemical and microplastic exposures, as well as extreme heat, increased player injuries, climate impacts, biodiversity loss, tree damage, flammability, and lack of recyclability.

 

LAUSD should instead prioritize sustainably managed, drought-tolerant natural grass athletic fields that are cost-effective, use less water, meet needed playable hours, and provide a cooler, safer environment for students, staff, and surrounding communities.

 

Please consider taking one or both of the following actions:

 

●     Attend a community meeting to learn more about the LAUSD Turf Study and provide feedback, either in person or virtually (4/28, 4/30, 5/7, 5/12). For more information, check out this LAUSD Turf Study flyer

 

●     Take LAUSD’s quick Turf Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5DN2XFY    

 

If you have any questions and would like to get further involved, please contact us.

 

With much appreciation,

Terry Saucier

SoCal Stop Artificial Turf Task Force, Chair

terrys...@gmail.com  / 818-437-4859 / ncsa.la

 

Recent Studies on Extreme Heat

UC Irvine News, (7 April 2026), “Mapping urban heat from space reveals dangerous inequities in LA public parks.” Full study: Ashley Agatep, Joshua B. Fisher, Kainani Tacazon, Ambar Rivera, Rossmery Zayas, Reginald Archer, Juan Carlos Ruiz Malagon & Jason A. Douglas, (18 March 2026) “Thermal inequities in public parks and open spaces in Los Angeles determined by remote sensing,” https://www.nature.com/articles/s42949-026-00366-5

Neal Morton, (13 April 2026). The Hechinger Report, “Student Athletes Feel the Heat as States Adapt to Climate Change.”  https://undark.org/2026/04/13/student-athletes-climate-change/

 

Lai, KY, Bauermeister, S, Sarkar, C (30 Jan 2026). “Associations of heat exposure with mental health and suicide in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis.” Nature, NPJ Mental Health Research; 5(7). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44184-026-00190-w

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   Albert Einstein  "Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value..."

                                              https://climate.nasa.gov/                    https://www.climaterealityproject.org/

[Robert Hall]

The baseline is shifting fast. Kids will know nothing other than playing on plastic surfaces in a few years. 

Bob Hall

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