County releases artificial turf feasibility study for North Mesa and Overlook parks; framework plans cost up to tens of millions

Consultants from NV5 and Site Southwest presented an artificial-turf feasibility study for North Mesa and Overlook Park at the Oct. 28 Los Alamos County Council meeting, offering conceptual reconfigurations intended to improve field safety, accessibility and year‑round playability.

Study scope and process The county commissioned NV5 to evaluate whether synthetic turf is appropriate, and where, for multiuse athletic fields facing heavy demand. NV5 said it conducted five public meetings, focused interviews, two surveys (350+ responses) and multiple staff engagements to shape recommendations.

Benefits and concerns Consultants summarized trade-offs: synthetic turf increases year‑round availability and reduces rest time needed between uses, potentially enabling more practices and tournaments; concerns include surface temperature on hot days, microplastic/runoff questions, end‑of‑life recyclability and human/environmental health questions (PFAS). NV5 said product selection and standards (e.g., cradle-to-cradle certified products) should be specified if the county pursues installations and noted third‑party standards and product testing should be used at design time.

Concepts and costs NV5 provided two levels of concept: a 'base' accessibility-driven set of improvements that retains much of the existing layout and a 'framework' plan with more extensive regrading, realignment and amenities. Key figures presented (2028 dollars): - North Mesa base: about $16.3 million (accessibility and essential upgrades). - North Mesa framework (phased): just over $20 million total across phases. - Overlook base: about $22.8 million. - Overlook framework (phased): about $34 million.

Candidate fields for synthetic turf included Bomber/Balmer and Lukavigula at North Mesa and selected fields at Overlook; consultants emphasized not every field should be turf and urged consideration of hybrid designs, lighting upgrades and ADA circulation improvements.

Council and public input Councilors asked about parking, RV parking relocation, field netting and scheduling conflicts; staff noted some sites currently share parking with adjacent private uses and that choices about parking and grading affect cost. Coaches and user groups supported turf for earlier practice windows for high school teams, while some business owners and residents raised sustainability and cost concerns. The Chamber shared a membership survey showing most (33 of 45) business-respondent members opposed the proposed GRT increase; the chamber also circulated business input on turf and budgets.

Operational considerations NV5 said that in New Mexico, field watering of synthetic turf is uncommon and typically not required; cooling is mostly used in hotter desert climates. Consultants recommended specifying recyclable infill materials and meeting recognized environmental and health standards at procurement.

Next steps NV5 recommended the study be used as a toolbox for future master planning; councilors asked staff to consider accessibility and lighting upgrades first and to align any turf decisions with planned field maintenance and long-term capital planning. No formal action to adopt turf or fund large framework plans was taken on Oct. 28.

Quote "Synthetic turf can be used year round and requires no rest between games, whereas natural grass use is limited in freezing or wet conditions," NV5 presenter Anya Paztushevska summarized during the presentation.

Ending The study gives the county conceptual options and phasing; if the council decides to move forward, the next stage would be design-level cost estimates, procurement specifications and a funding plan.