Turf Fields Provide Safe and Accessible Play 

COMMENTARY

Over the past decade, numerous schools and towns in Maine have installed turf fields to ensure that people have better access to recreational facilities across the seasons. These fields have provided valuable opportunities for people of all ages to enjoy parks, playgrounds and playing fields when the weather is nice — and have offered more resilient facilities during inclement weather.

Now, however, proposed legislation (currently being amended) would require a lengthy study into the safety of artificial turf fields, despite a large amount of existing research behind their use in communities today. The study comes instead of a three-year moratorium on synthetic turf fields.

Whether it’s a study or a moratorium, the point is the same: Moving away from these durable and sustainable playing surfaces would be a big step in the wrong direction, most notably because it would curtail opportunities for safe outdoor play when we should be encouraging kids to be active.

Higher Usage for Communities

Communities across the country face the very real challenge of maintaining high-quality recreation spaces. As operations and maintenance budgets get tighter, more and more schools and counties have chosen to go the route of turf. That’s because these fields have much higher utilization rates than grass, they provide enhanced safety against falls and, for Maine, they can be plowed to extend the portion of the year in which they can be accessed.

When families and local sports teams want to get out and play, they should have the peace of mind that their local park will be open, regardless of recent precipitation.

Turf fields enable 667% more hours of community programming than grass surfaces, and see a 90% reduction in weather-related closures. When it rains, turf fields dry up to eight times faster than grass, maintaining a consistent surface quality.

Proven Safety

Robust scientific research backs up the safety of these surfaces. The Environmental Protection Agency, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission conducted a comprehensive study into components of the surfaces just last year, finding that they are just as safe as grass.

And in March 2025, the California EPA and Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment found “no significant health risks” for players, coaches and others using synthetic turf containing crumb rubber infill. 

The extensive body of peer-reviewed research underscores that turf is safe.

When it comes to safe play, city officials in Maine see the benefit. In a letter opposing the original bill and moratorium, Portland Mayor Mark Dion wrote, “Given the short growing season in Maine and the high rate of field usage in a city of our size, synthetic turf has allowed us to provide safe, durable and accessible athletic spaces throughout the year.”

Keeping grass fields in shape for consistent play can be expensive and exceedingly challenging from an operations perspective. Well-maintained grass fields might be realistic at the Super Bowl or the World Cup, but grass fields can fall into disrepair when the weather doesn’t cooperate at the park down the street. 

Meanwhile, turf fields open the door for consistent outdoor play in places with unpredictable weather.

Maine deserves parks and facilities that are open and accessible as much as possible, and the data behind the safety of turf fields already exists. When there are April showers, turf fields ensure that kids and people of all ages can still get out and play.

Scott Gerber is the program director of the Better Play Initiative. A resident of Arlington, Virginia, Scott coaches little league and serves on the board of Arlington United Baseball. As a youth sports organizer and community advocate, he is passionate about empowering safe play and accessible recreation spaces. BPT can be found on X.