Officials approved a $4 million rebate for Las Vegas park grass removal; the city estimates yearly savings of 82 million gallons. The plan covers 15 parks; seven projects are complete. Residents cite risks to trees and worsening heat, and oppose artificial turf at two parks.
The city says most grass being removed is in areas such as parking-lot islands and that it has not removed grass used by the community. Artificial turf is planned at Cragin Park and Bettye Wilson Soccer Complex; at Bettye Wilson, it will be installed on land with no existing grass. A law taking effect in January will prohibit using water delivered by the local water authority to irrigate “non-functional turf,” defined as decorative grass serving only aesthetic purposes.
Activists Laura McSwain and Stephenie Stephens say removing grass beneath mature trees threatens tree canopies; Stephens also says the city now has to “flood” the rock around remaining trees to keep them alive. A 2008 University of Nevada, Las Vegas study found artificial-turf surfaces can reach 169 degrees. The article notes that some artificial turf may contain “forever chemicals,” substances linked to cancer, but does not say whether the planned turf contains them.
