Turf fields

Representing painters' union members, urged the council to follow staff's scientific data and support the turf recommendation.

A 22-year turf installer and union business rep, supported the staff recommendation citing new zero-PFAS, cooler, recyclable turf products.

Representing youth-serving organizations including the NAACP and YWCA, opposed turf, citing health and environmental impacts and the climate action plan.

A parent of two young players, opposed turf, describing extreme heat on plastic fields and legal liability risks.

A longtime soccer league operator, supported keeping the two existing turf fields, saying grass fields under heavy use deteriorate into dirt.

Opposed turf on greenhouse gas grounds, citing CO2 emissions figures and phthalate endocrine-disruption concerns.

Suggested a pilot using organic regenerative practices on at least one field and noted UC Riverside's high-use Bermuda hybrid grass.

Opposed turf, saying children's health shouldn't be traded for playing hours and criticizing the use of children as props at a prior committee meeting.

A former FIFA Women's World Cup player and environmental scientist, argued turf protects play access for lower-income kids in an 'urban play desert.'

A fourth-grader who said he loves nature and asked the council to say no to plastic grass.

Speaking for Spanish-speaking families who use the parks, said they support turf because it keeps their kids playing locally.

Union representative urged approval of turf, citing jobs, water savings, and the need to prove grass can meet demand before switching.

A public health doctor raised in Pasadena, acknowledged play access but questioned counting on longer hours given heat and pending health guidelines.

Read a letter from the West Pasadena Little League president supporting turf at Robinson Park with strong heat and chemical standards rather than a ban.

Cited turf surface temperatures of 140-170 degrees and urged a vote consistent with the climate action plan and environmental justice element.

Environmental Commission chair questioned the three-month closure claim, the diluted process, and unclear costs for environmental contract requirements.

Warned that approving turf normalizes fake grass everywhere and urged creative alternatives like grants and building more parks.

Speaking for West Pasadena and Central Altadena Little Leagues, supported turf for reliable field access.

A longtime youth football coach, cited injury statistics showing higher foot, ankle, and knee injury rates on turf.

A Villa Park club coach, said turf works with heat mitigation, and that he's seen more injuries on hardened summer grass fields.

Cited carcinogens, neurotoxins, and off-gassing in artificial turf and urged a ban and funding for natural grass.

Warned about PFAS, microplastics, and questionable recycling claims, questioning where old turf would actually be shipped.

Opposed turf in majority-minority communities, citing PFAS health risks, injury rates, and microplastics in the water table.

A Villa Park club coach and adult league player, urged preserving the turf field, citing access and equity for kids who can't afford club soccer.

Questioned why the council should trust plastic manufacturers, citing a history of downplayed risks and the BPA replacement precedent.

Opposed turf, noting both parks are in Black and brown communities and asking the council to reconsider, including sod options.

Representing Painters and Allied Trades District Council 36, urged the council to follow staff's scientific data and approve the turf recommendation.

A 22-year turf installer with Local 1247, supported the staff recommendation citing zero-PFAS, cooler, recyclable new turf products.

Representing youth-serving organizations including NAACP and YWCA, opposed turf, citing health and environmental impacts and the climate action plan.

A parent of two Villa Park league players, opposed turf, describing extreme heat on plastic fields and legal liability concerns.

A 30-year league operator, supported keeping the two existing turf fields, saying grass fields under heavy use turn to dirt.

Opposed turf on greenhouse gas grounds — turf emits ~55 tons of CO2 per year versus grass as a carbon sink — and phthalate exposure.

Noted UC Riverside's high-use Bermuda hybrid grass and turf's heat-island effect; suggested an organic regenerative pilot field.

Opposed turf, objecting to children being brought as props to the June MSC meeting and urging consideration of full health and climate costs.

A FIFA Women's World Cup player and environmental scientist, argued turf reduces access equity in an urban play desert and supported turf for social sustainability.

A fourth grader at Willard Elementary, asked the council to choose real grass over plastic grass.

Spoke for Spanish-speaking families who use the parks, supporting turf because it keeps their kids playing locally.

Painters union representative urged approval of turf, citing playtime demand, water savings and union construction jobs.

A public health doctor raised in Pasadena, opposed turf, citing heat burdens in Northwest Pasadena and lower long-term grass costs.

Read a letter from the West Pasadena Little League president supporting turf with strong heat and chemical standards.

Said turf reaches 140-170 degrees on extreme heat days and urged a vote consistent with the climate action plan and environmental justice element.

Environmental Commission chair questioned the three-month closure claim, the diluted process, and whether environmental contract requirements are budgeted.

Warned that approving turf normalizes plastic grass citywide; urged creativity with grants and more parks instead.

On behalf of West Pasadena and Central Altadena Little Leagues boards, supported turf for reliable field access.

A 15-year youth and college coach, cited injury statistics showing higher foot, ankle and knee injury rates on turf.

A Villa Park club coach, supported turf from experience — grass becomes concrete in summer and causes more youth injuries.

Listed carcinogens and neurotoxins in artificial turf and urged a ban and funding for natural grass.

Questioned the turf recycling claims, citing PFAS contamination and cancer clusters at manufacturing and reclamation sites.

Questioned proposing turf in majority-minority communities given PFAS health risks and questioned recyclability claims.

A Villa Park club coach and adult league player, supported keeping turf for access and equity, water conservation and cost.

On consent, asked whether the contractor is financially responsible for cable-rental delays; on turf, questioned trusting plastic manufacturers' claims.

Opposed turf, noting both parks are in Black and brown communities and asking staff to look at sod options.