"Stone said his vote is influenced by a letter the council received last month from the Santa Clara County Medical Association, which represents more than 4,000 local health professionals. The letter outlined doctors' concerns about the health impacts of synthetic fields, and recommended the council vote against turf. "When our county doctors are telling us that a proposed solution may do harm and offer an alternative, I believe we have the responsibility to choose that safer path even when it's harder," Stone said."
"But other councilmembers, like Councilman Keith Reckdahl, said turf fields are the most time-friendly option. Figuring out how to make grass fields more playable will take the city time to figure out, Reckdahl said, and local athletes can't wait that long. "We don't have time to go through that learning curve while the kids are sitting there waiting for the grass to grow," Reckdahl said."
Palo Alto City Council voted 6-1 to replace and retain synthetic turf at El Camino Park, with Councilman Greer Stone dissenting. The council also unanimously approved a pilot program to explore integrating natural grass at other sports spaces such as Cubberley Park. The Santa Clara County Medical Association sent a letter outlining doctors' concerns about health impacts from synthetic fields and recommended against turf. Supporters emphasized year-round accessibility of turf, while opponents raised environmental and health concerns about PFAS chemicals linked to cancer and developmental issues. Councilmembers weighed playability timelines against safety and environmental risks.
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