"The vote comes as swarms of residents line up on either side of the turf debate. Many want to keep the turf fields at El Camino because of their year-round accessibility. But some lo-cals, along with members of the local Sierra Club chapter, are pushing the city to remove the synthetics, citing environmental concerns with PFAS, or chemicals that can take centuries to break down and may be linked to can-cer, reproductive issues and stunted development in children."
"Resident Cristian Avalos, who supports the turf, said playing sports on poorly maintained and uneven natural grass can cause injuries. "We should be prioritizing the safety of our athletes and the longevity of our community spaces," he wrote in a Dec. 23 email to the council. "I fear that moving to grass will result in El Camino becoming another under-main-tained facility that parents and players will eventually fear using.""
Palo Alto City Council will decide on Jan. 12 whether to continue installing artificial turf at El Camino Park. The council is expected to approve replacing the existing synthetic turf and to authorize a project to improve natural grass playability and convert Cubberley Community Center's turf to real grass in 2028. Residents are sharply divided: many favor turf for year-round access and durability, while opponents and Sierra Club members cite PFAS contamination risks and potential health effects. A city-commissioned October study recommended synthetic turf because it withstands heavier use and costs less to install.
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