REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Completion of Council Priority Project SU-2 Artificial Turf Policy Study (Information Only)
Report
BACKGROUND
Kimley Horn and subconsultant Clough, Harbour & Associates (CHA) were hired to conduct a comparative analysis between artificial turf and natural grass and to make recommendations regarding a regulation or policy for artificial turf use on both public and private property. With support from City staff, the consultants completed a comparative analysis using existing research and case studies that examined multiple aspects of artificial turf versus natural grass:
1. Environmental impacts
2. Health impacts
3. Cost comparisons
4. Existing policies regulating artificial turf use
5. Alignment with Sunnyvale policies
Kimley Horn and CHA were also tasked with evaluating Sunnyvale’s current maintenance practices and making recommendations to optimize maintenance of the City’s current natural grass athletic fields.
City staff and consultants presented the findings of Council Priority Project SU-2, at the June 10, 2026 Parks & Recreation Commission meeting, June 15, 2026 Sustainability Commission meeting, June 22, 2026 Planning Commission meeting, and July 28, 2026, City Council meeting. Feedback from City Councilmembers and Commissioners was either included in the final report (Attachment 1) or responded to (Attachment 2). The finalized completed report includes recommendations from Kimley-Horn for operational and policy changes to address the community, commission, and Council feedback regarding artificial turf versus natural grass.
This informational report to Council will serve as the completion of this Council priority Project. The report includes several operational items that departments will implement.
EXISTING POLICY
General Plan Policies:
- LT-9.2 Follow management and preventive maintenance strategies to extend the usable life of open space and recreation facilities, such as planning for and implementing “non-use times” for open space and facilities in order to assure adequate maintenance and regeneration.
- LT-9.3 Adopt management, maintenance and development practices that minimize negative impacts to the natural environment, such as supporting and enforcing the integrated pest management system; and landscaping in ways which minimize the need for water.
- EM-10.1 consider the impacts of surface runoff as part of land use and development decision and implement BMPS to minimize the total volume and rate of runoff of waste quality and quantity (hydro modification) of surface runoff as part of land use and development decisions.
- Goal EM-14 Recycling and source reduction programs: reduce solid waste through recycling, source reduction and education and special programs.
Climate Action Playbook, Strategy 4: Managing Resources Sustainably:
- Play 4.1 Achieve Zero Waste goals for solid waste
- Play 4.3 Enhance natural carbon sequestration capacity
DISCUSSION
The purpose of this Project was to evaluate aspects of artificial turf use vs natural grass and develop potential policy recommendations for regulating the use of artificial turf.
Based on the consultant’s findings and report recommendations, staff made the following recommendations as part of the Council Study Session on July 28, 2026:
1. Accept the report on Artificial Turf Policy Study.
2. Operationalize the decision tree to be used during park renovations process.
3. If use of artificial turf is needed, require mitigation measures to minimize environmental pollution and health impacts, based on the best available technology and information at that time.
4. Implement the organic field management pilot.
5. Consider the proposal for improved maintenance methods at Lakewood Park.
6. Further study is required to identify parameters and goals of regulation or standards for artificial turf on private property.
Council questions and comments along with staff responses are included in Attachment 2. Edits have been made to the final report from the consultant in alignment with Council’s feedback (Attachment 1). A summary of Council’s responses to the above recommendations are summarized below:
1. Council generally supported accepting the report on the Artificial Turf Policy Study prepared by Kimley Horn and CHA.
2. Council supported staff operationalizing the decision tree, with the understanding it would not be used until 2032 when design would begin for the first park (Ortega Park) to be considered for artificial turf. While some definitions are further clarified in the report, others will need to be defined prior to using the decision tree.
3. Council supported requiring mitigation measures to be implemented if and when artificial turf fields are installed (through use of the decision tree).
4. Council was in favor of the City conducting a pilot of an organically managed field and encouraged staff to consider using a consultant with experience implementing organic field management on athletic fields. This action will likely come to Council for consideration through the budget process.
5. Council supported implementing an improved maintenance program at Lakewood Park. This action will likely come to Council for consideration through the budget process.
6. Council expressed interest in seeing private property policy considerations such as increased outreach to developments for drought tolerant species and regulations around artificial turf use in parking strips. Such considerations may potentially be a future Council priority project or work plan item for the Community Development Department.
This final report will serve as a resource for future park project considerations. Following the completion of this priority project, staff will work on the following operational tasks:
- Include both the organic field management pilot and the Lakewood Park increased maintenance program in Fiscal Year 2027/28 Proposed Budget for Council consideration. Department of Public Works will lead this effort with Environmental Services Department support.
- Add heat warning language posted at both Fair Oaks Park and in the field reservation agreement. Department of Public Works will lead this effort with Library and Recreation Department support.
- Evaluate the potential for closing artificial turf fields and cancelling reservations on Santa Clara County Heat Advisory Days. Library and Recreation Department will lead this effort with Department of Public Works support, in coordination with the Department of Public Safety.
- Prepare to operationalize the decision tree for use in 2032 and beyond. Department of Public Works will lead this effort with Environmental Services Department support.
- Decision tree definitions and additional context are published in the final report (pages 14-16) but will be re-evaluated closer to the first use of the tree in 2032. The decision tree will be updated and used with data from the pilot projects, innovations in the industry, and other information relevant to the context for 2032. Definitions to still be defined further by staff are thresholds for identifying high intensity use and understanding of benefits and costs of organic turf management practices.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council meeting agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board at City Hall, at the Sunnyvale Public Library and in the Department of Public Safety Lobby. In addition, the agenda and this report are available at the City Hall reception desk located on the first floor of City Hall at 456 W. Olive Avenue (during normal business hours), and on the City's website.
Staff
Prepared by: Madeline Khair, Environmental Programs Manager
Reviewed by: Ramana Chinnakotla, Director, Environmental Services
Reviewed by: Michelle Perera, Director, Library and Recreation
Reviewed by: Aaron Bert, Director, Public Works
Reviewed by: Trudi Ryan, Director, Community Development
Reviewed by: Rebecca Moon, City Attorney
Reviewed by: Sarah Johnson-Rios, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Tim Kirby, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. City of Sunnyvale Artificial Turf Policy Study Final Report
2. Council Study Session Questions and Responses