Climate Change & Everyday Living
In January 40,000 acres were consumed by fire in Los Angeles and 29 people lost their lives. In July as I write, at least 120 people have died in Texas, with the full extent of damage from flooding still unknown. In the Continental U.S. during the first 7 months of 2025, setting aside global events, there was an “early” heat dome in June, a swarm of 100 tornadoes across the Midwest in March, as well as other fires, floods and storm events across the United States.
LA County Wildfire Report, ABC News WIldfire Report, New York Times Texas Flood Report, NPR Heat Dome Report, New York Times Severe Weather Report.
Scientists, the United Nations and global policymakers overwhelmingly agree that climate change is caused by human activity, particularly from fossil fuel extraction and use. This includes the creation and disposal of plastics. As 99% of plastics are derived from fossil feedstock, plastic pollution is directly tied to climate change.
Moreover, micro- and nano-plastics, tiny particles resulting from plastic degradation, intensify multiple environmental crises. They contribute to biodiversity loss, ocean acidification, freshwater disruption, soil degradation, and altered atmospheric chemistry. This is a function of not only their fossil fuel origin but also their physical properties and of the complex mix of chemical additives that are meant to enhance product desirability.
UN Fast Climate Change Facts, Geneva Plastics & Climate Change Page, CIEL Plastics in the Environment Page, UN Plastic Pollution Page, Guardian Plastic Pollution & Earth Systems Report, One Earth Journal Plastic Worsens Climate Change, Geneva Chemicals in Plastic
What’s To Be Done?
To leave a world for our children that resembles ours and that continues to heal, scientists and experts agree that we must phase out unnecessary plastic products that pose a high pollution risk.
WWF Ending Plastic Pollution , UC Berkeley World Without PlasticResearch Journal Reducing Plastic Waste
Plastic turf belongs firmly in that category. Athletes have played sports for millennia on natural surfaces. Today, we not only know how to build safe, playable grass fields, we can do so in ways that use less water, avoid synthetic chemicals, and eliminate fossil-fueled mowing. Even gopher problems can be addressed sustainably.
How? Keep reading!
Sustainable Grass Fields for Sport, People, & Planet
Breaking a Myth
It’s often claimed that natural grass can’t support high-impact sports like soccer, football, or lacrosse. Only plastic will stand up to regular practice and play. Objections are slippery, ranging from gophers to water usage, maintenance costs or hours of use.
McKegney Green and other sustainable sports fields show otherwise.
Of course it’s possible to have a good grass sustainably managed field, it has been done and it can be cost effective. To demonstrate this, the Sierra Club Loma Prieta (SCLP) Plastic Pollution Prevention Committee (PPPC) hosted an event on June 27, 2025, for local governmental officials, staff, and sustainability advocates right on the Green.
Speakers included:
- Cameron Balfe, Senior Staff, Tiburon Public Works
- Blaise Turek, Field and grass specialist, owner of Scapecrafting Solutions
- Alex Opgenorth, Smart turfgrass electric device expert, Greensight Inc.
- Rika Gopinath, Policy & Action Manager, Beyond Pesticides’ Parks for a Sustainable Future program
Beyond Pesticides has supported multiple California cities in transitioning away from poorly maintained or artificial turf toward healthy, drought-tolerant, pesticide-free natural fields.
Parks for a Sustainable Future, Ragel Ranch Sports Field.
The event drew attendees from Santa Clara County, Sonoma County, San Rafael, Foster City, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Francisco, and the City of Santa Clara. Lively discussions were only cut short to beat the Friday traffic.
Covered Topics Included
- Field type (sand-capped) & installation
- Sod establishment & repair
- Weed & pest management without synthetic chemicals
- Biodiversity on the field, including grasses, pets & birds, and its benefits
- Soil health & compost
- Reclaimed vs. potable water use
- Game scheduling, field closures & usage hours
- Sustainable mowing practices (robotic/electric) & field surveillance
- Cost-effective field management
- Gopher mitigation strategies
Notes on McKegney Green, Summary Remarks B. Turek, Summary Remarks A. Opgenorth, Summary Remarks R. Gopinath, Summary Ragel Ranch Sports Field
Field Highlights
Mixed Grasses, Birds Welcome
McKegney Green was, and is, a successful experiment. The field was first redone in 2015 and then upgraded in 2018. Ever since staff have deployed varying tactics and strategies, keeping those that work while redoing or dropping others. For example in 2015 the first grasses were a mix grown from seed but, due to excessive weeds and a need for better durability, the entire field was redone using Bandera Bermudagrass sod. No synthetic pesticides or herbicides have ever been used.
Today clover and low daisies grow freely alongside the main turf. These low-growing mixed plants seem to enhance turf health, and low flying birds love the insects they attract. Even Canada geese are tolerated as they eat clover and keep the grass mix balanced.
Gophers
Not every park or field has gophers, but McKegney Green is surrounded by these lively diggers. Tiburon staff have opted to "train" the gophers to avoid the McKegney Green. Off field there is a healthy gopher presence, particularly in a large hill at one end. Here they are largely left alone, though staff have installed owl boxes to encourage predation. On field, in accordance with California law, when a new gopher hole is discovered the gophers are killed. Since the field is pesticide free, scavengers, e.g., vultures, can safely consume the remains. The holes are then filled with sand. Over time there have been many fewer new gopher holes in the sports field.
Though not used on McKegney Green, another option for keeping gophers away is to deploy gopher wire underneath the field.
Dogs, Kids, Community & No Fences
While signs request that owners keep pets off the field, it’s understood that leashed dogs occasionally walk across it (e.g., notice the dogs in the background of a photo, further above). Bird droppings and dog waste don’t accumulate because living soil contains beneficial bacteria that break down waste naturally.
Because there are no fences, the field remains an open community space, used for dog walking, casual play, bike rides, and strolling along the Bay.
Expenses
Installing McKegney Green’s 3-acre grass field, at about $3 million, was more expensive than for most grass sports fields. For example rebuilding Field #1 at Ragle Ranch Park in Sebastopol cost $300,000. However the Green was installed first in 2015 then upgraded in 2018, adding to the overall expense. But ongoing maintenance of McKegney Green is quite low, with a budget cap of $20,000 for both FY 2023-2024 and FY 2024-2025. In FY 2021-2022, actual expenses came to $3,467 and in FY 2021-22 expenses were $12,036. Budget Includes McKegney Green, Regal Ranch Includes Field Cost
For larger systems, like a set of city-wide parks, cost savings may be achieved by managing all open community grass areas using sustainable practices, albeit with more care reserved for sports fields. When combined with modern electric, i.e. not petroleum based, autonomous (robotic) equipment an even larger savings may be realized. For example, smaller robotic mowers resemble outdoor Roombas and are not expensive. Summary Electric Robotic Field Care
Sports, Scheduling & Rain
McKegney Green is a sports field and practices, games and matches are held here. Until now, only one game at a time was allowed. But starting in FY 2025-26 two games at a time will be permitted. As there is a crossover period when lacrosse and soccer play overlaps, primarily in March and April, both sports benefit. Steady rain still closes the field but, while people grouse about rain players express strong support for the grass.
In many localities there are unused open grass fields. If a portion of that acreage was converted to open, unfenced sustainable grass sports fields, many more hours of organized sports play would be possible, at a reasonable cost.
Other Grass Field Models
McKegney Green is a sand-capped sports field, which comes with advantages and disadvantages. For example, while ideal for drainage and surface consistency it’s not suitable for dressing with compost. The sand and surface need to be of a certain type (Delta brown) and other materials may affect the field.
In contrast, Ragle Ranch Field #1 in Sebastopol used a different approach: graded soil, added minerals, gopher wire underneath, and a fescue-ryegrass sod blend. It’s pesticide-free, compostable, and only cost $300,000 to install.
As stated by Blaise Turek, “This is gardening, just at a sports field scale.
Imagine, Every Field Sustainable
Each community has unique soil, climate, and cultural needs. But sustainable grass fields are not only possible, they’re practical, affordable, and increasingly necessary.
Yes, the first year or two can require care and adjustment, just like establishing a garden. But over time, these fields become lower maintenance, cheaper to operate, and far better for children, athletes, pets, and the planet.
And best of all?
They grow hope.