Some of the hardest working fake grass in the world will be replaced next summer when Cal Anderson’s playfield gets new turf

Some of the hardest working synthetic turf in the world is scheduled to be replaced on Capitol Hill. When the new fake grass is finally laid down next summer on Bobby Morris Playfield, the $2.8 million project will bring bright new field lines, new enhancements for accessibility — and a major milestone for an important test addressing health and environmental concerns that played out on the busy field over the last decade.

Seattle Parks and Recreation says its planning has begun for the major construction project that will shut down the playfield in the summer of 2027 so the old turf can be ripped up and the new turf can be installed.

That the project will impact everything from youth and adult sports, to sunbathing, to major gatherings is testament to the importance of Cal Anderson’s playfield in the neighborhood and the city. Friday, thousands will gather through the park and on the turf for the city’s May Day rally and march.

Next year’s project will also mark an important milestone in the city’s efforts to find the right balance in its sports fields for quality of performance, durability, and environmental and health concerns.

SPR says the sand and cork fill that was first trialed by the city at Bobby Morris a decade ago has become Seattle’s standard and will be part of the 2027 Cal Anderson project.

The proposed new playing surface at Cal Anderson will follow Seattle Parks and Recreation’s current standard its 2016 project established: a 2.25-inch slit-film turf system with sand and granular cork infill installed over the existing 25mm “elastic-layer,” a shock-absorbing rubber and binder base for synthetic turf, typically 3/4 to 1.5 inches thick.

A decade ago, the common crumb rubber fill used in artificial turf installations had come under scrutiny over health concerns that the recycled tires could be contaminating the fields. Three federal agencies were studying whether the crumb rubber fields were exposing people to dangerous chemicals. Over the past decade, federal agencies have transitioned from a state of uncertainty to a position of cautious reassurance regarding crumb rubber fields, saying the data does not show an elevated health risk for players, coaches, or spectators. A California study finalized in March echoes the federal findings. But the guidelines have changed with recommendations around thorough washing after games and limiting play in extreme heat.

Many cities including Seattle still have opted to make the change across their proliferations of synthetic turf fields. For one, crumb rubber is notorious for absorbing and retaining solar heat. On hot summer days, surface temperatures on a rubber-infilled field can reach 150 F. Organic infills like cork or walnut shells can dissipate heat. Some options even utilize evaporative cooling where they absorb moisture and release it slowly.

Concerns about the spread of the rubber granules has also limited their use as the pellets end up in storm drains and water systems.

Meanwhile, players can also prefer the more natural feel of an organic-filled field without the smell of rubber.

With its ten-year lifespan at an end, the update of the Bobby Morris turf will also include upgrades aimed to address “athletic field access barriers” and improve the fields for more users.

Parks says the work will include improvements to pathways and upgrades to features such as dugouts and bleacher areas to ensure they meet current city accessibility standards and are more usable for all visitors.

One area in which Bobby Morris’s new turf installation won’t break any new ground is in what happens with the old materials.

Seattle Parks and Recreation says it has “no specific” standard for disposal of old synthetic turf.

Much of the old Bobby Morris field is headed for the dump.

“Materials are handled in accordance with applicable solid waste regulations, and in most cases are disposed of through standard solid waste processes,” a spokesperson said.

The Bobby Morris Playfield work is slated to begin in the summer of 2027 with games — and more — returning to the field by that fall.

Learn more at engageseattleparks.com/bobby-morris-playfield-synthetic-turf-replacement.

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