Parks, Recreation & Community Services
Municipal Services Committee
March 24, 2026
Item #2
Artificial Turf Fields at City Parks
Parks, Recreation & Community Services
Background
• EAC memorandum - September 13, 2024
> Recommended Council put a moratorium on new
& replacement artificial turf installations
• RPC recommendation – December 3, 2024
> Maintain and replace artificial turf at Robinson
Park & Villa Parke
> Do not add more turf fields
2 Parks, Recreation & Community Services
Athletic Fields in Pasadena
• 22 dedicated multi-purpose fields (20 grass &
two artificial)
• Serve over 60 groups/organizations & 20K
youth & adults annually
• Demand for sport field use is increasing
• 20-25 groups turned away annually
Parks, Recreation & Community Services
Athletic Field Availability
• Typical field availability – 5,475hrs annually
> Average 15hr a day (7 am - 10 pm)
• Prime-time permitted use
> Weekdays (4 pm – 10 pm)
> Weekends (7 am – 10 pm)
> Non-reserved open to the public weekdays
(7 am – 4 pm)
Parks, Recreation & Community Services
Athletic Field Availability
• 14 fields with lights
> 3,120 prime-time available hours
• 8 fields without lights
> 1,850 prime-time available hours
• Some parks have multiple fields
> One sport can be played at a time
Parks, Recreation & Community Services
Number & Locations of Athletic Fields
Park # of Fields Lighted Sports Played
Allendale Park 1 Yes Baseball / Soccer
Brenner Park 1 No Softball
Brookside Park 3 Yes Baseball / Soccer
Eaton Blanche Park 1 No T-ball baseball
Grant Park 1 No Softball
Hahamongna Watershed
Park 1 No
Baseball / Softball / Soccer / Rugby /
Flag Football
Hamilton Park 3 No Baseball
Jefferson Park 1 Yes Softball / Soccer
Robinison Park 3 Yes
Baseball / Softball / Youth Football /
Soccer / Frisbee Football
Victory Park 4 Yes Baseball / Football / Soccer
Villa Parke 2 Yes Soccer / Flag Football/ Softball
Washington Park 1 No T-ball baseball
Parks, Recreation & Community Services
Athletic Field Availability
• Additional impacts that reduce field
availability
> Maintenance and renovations
> Inclement weather
> Vandalism
> Non-sporting events i.e., Flea Market, staging area,
parking (Area H, Brookside 2 & 3)
Parks, Recreation & Community Services
Natural Grass
• Benefits
> Reduce urban heat island effect
> Filter rainwater & pollution
> Provides habitat for birds & insects
• Challenges
> Muddy fields & compaction
> Requires regular maintenance &
renovations
> Regular water use
> Gophers
Parks, Recreation & Community Services
Artificial Turf
• Available for play at all prime time hours
• Reduces water consumption
• Eliminates use of pesticides, herbicides,
fertilizers & heavy equipment
• Eliminates contaminated storm water runoff
• Eliminates field downtime (increase
availability by 20-25%)
• Provides consistent playing field
9 Parks, Recreation & Community Services
Artificial Turf Fields
• Two artificial turf athletic fields
at Robinson Park & Villa Parke
• Installed 2009 thru 2011
• Used for City programs, local
schools, & sport leagues
Parks, Recreation & Community Services
User Groups at Robinson Park
11 Annual User Groups Adult/Youth Total # Participants
2025 Total # Teams
Adult Sports Management Soccer League Adult 1,000 104
Ultimate Frisbee Adult 80 4
Pasadena Ponies Youth 40 2
LA Sports Net Adult 120 11
Citywide Sports Youth 178 14
Sequoya School Youth 50 5
Mayfield Jr. School Youth 30 2
West Pasadena / Central Altadena Little
League
Youth
293 26
Rosebowl Pony League Youth 210 14
Totals 2,001 182
Parks, Recreation & Community Services
User Groups at Villa Parke
12 Annual User Groups Adult/Youth Total # Participants
2025 Total # Teams
Villa Parke Youth Soccer league Youth 3,388 344
Citywide Sports Youth 178 14
Providence College Adult 50 4
FC Goldenstate Youth 30 2
William Alverado Soccer Training Youth 55 4
Adult Sports Management Soccer League Adult 1,000 104
Totals 4,701 472
Parks, Recreation & Community Services
Attribute Comparison
Category Artificial Turf Natural Turf
Water use Limited to zero High
Field Temperature Rubber infill: 150°-170°
Natural infill: 110°-135° 85°-95°
Playability Consistent surface;
unaffected by wet weather
Variable with weather; mud and
unevenness possible
Field availability Permitted at all available
hours
Reduced permittable hours due to
renovations
Compaction Cushioned stable surface Soil compaction increases with use
Annual maintenance cost per
acre $3,477 $13,626
Annual rejuvenation / renovation
cost per acre $6,611 $5,969
13 Parks, Recreation & Community Services
Environmental & Health Concerns
with Artificial Turf
• Public Health conducted a review of best
available peer-reviewed research literature
• Based on the research, the risk to human
health posed by artificial turf is low and likely
not significant
> Materials in artificial turf contain substances that
adversely impact health
> The amount of these substances that can be
absorbed by the human body during activities on
artificial turf is low-risk
• More long-term studies assessing health
effects would be helpful
14 Parks, Recreation & Community Services
Mitigation Measures
• Selecting a product that:
> Has Cradle-2-Cradle certification
> Monitors for & removes PFAS from manufacturing
> Is recyclable
> Uses natural infill (e. g. sand, coconut husk, walnut shells) to reduce heat
• Developing a robust turf maintenance
program to reduce litter / extend turf life
• Developing a comprehensive extreme heat
guidance policy
15 Parks, Recreation & Community Services
Robinson and Villa Turf Fields
• Reached their end-of-life cycle
• FY 2027 CIP process includes replacement of
both fields
> Recommends $975,000 be appropriated to
replace field at Villa Parke
16 Parks, Recreation & Community Services
Questions
Questions?
17