City approves Lakeside Elementary turf change order; residents raise health questions

The City Commission approved a change order to replace worn grass at Lakeside Elementary with artificial turf, using the city's existing contractor for a playground and field project. East Grand Rapids Public Schools will pay the project cost and reimburse the city under the city's purchasing policy.

City staff explained the playground improvement project began in 2023 to create a dedicated green space for Lakeside’s lower elementary students; heavy use has left the grass unable to recover and a change order to replace it with artificial turf was proposed to extend the usable life of the space.

Mr. Melville (city staff) told commissioners the Board of Education has approved the expenditure and the schools are self-funding the entire cost. He described scheduling efficiencies by coordinating the turf installation with a main field restoration project and said the planned contractor would remove the natural grass and replace it with an artificial surface that requires less routine maintenance.

Several commissioners asked whether the turf replacement relates to the city's Turf Replacement Fund and whether the Joint Facilities Committee should consider a funding policy for future turf replacements; staff said those conversations will be placed on the Joint Facilities Committee agenda.

Public commenters and Commissioner comments raised health and safety concerns. Commissioner Burdick asked whether studies show increased injuries on artificial turf; one resident and Dr. Nancy Patterson, a physician who identified herself as board certified in pediatrics and child and adolescent psychiatry and with past work at a cancer research hospital, told the commission they were concerned about studies linking turf infill to carcinogens. Dr. Patterson said, "many turf grasses have been associated with childhood cancer. I, please, I ask you not to ignore that." Commissioners asked staff about alternative infill products and were told newer products (for example coconut-fiber–based systems) exist but are not yet widely proven.

Despite the concerns, the commission voted to approve the change order. Commissioners and staff directed the schools and Joint Facilities Committee to discuss long-term Turf Replacement Fund policy and possible access rules for school fields once the turf is installed.

Implementation notes: the school district will reimburse the city under the existing contract, staff will coordinate scheduling with the main-field project and the Joint Facilities Committee will consider policy questions about future turf funding and access.