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Parents press Sac City Unified over Crocker/Riverside turf plan; board authorizes amended CEQA notice and public meeting
Summary
After parents raised heat, health and equity concerns about a plan to replace grass and install artificial turf at Crocker/Riverside Elementary, the board authorized staff to amend the project’s Notice of Exemption to better reflect scope and scheduled a community meeting April 21 to gather input before further action.
Trustees received heated public comment April 20 over a proposed renovation at Crocker/Riverside Elementary that would remove most natural grass and trees and replace the field and play areas with hardcourt surfacing, rubberized playground surfacing and an artificial turf multi‑use field.
Staff told the board they were seeking authority only to file an amended Notice of Exemption under CEQA and to pre‑order long‑lead items (play structures, shade shelters and turf) so construction schedules would not jeopardize readiness for the first day of school. District staff emphasized the requested action was not final approval of construction contracts; rather, the NOE filing would formally notice the project to the public and trigger the shorter statutory review window.
Parents, PTA members and community advocates argued that the plan would create a heat, air quality and environmental hazard for young children and would remove key shade trees. One parent cited peers’ experiences at other districts where artificial turf reached extreme surface temperatures and raised concerns about plastics and PFAS chemicals. Speakers requested that the board pause the pre‑purchase and take more time to explore natural alternatives; they also asked the board to hold a full community engagement process before authorizing installation.
Trustee questions and staff responses focused on safety, maintenance and project timing. Staff said Crocker’s existing field is unsafe for consistent use and that full natural‑grass alternatives would require major new irrigation infrastructure and a longer schedule, which could push work beyond the start of school. Staff also explained that some long‑lead items, including the turf, require factory inspection and months of lead time to avoid construction delays.
The board authorized staff to amend the NOE to list additional CEQA classifications to clarify the project scope and filed the NOE, but several trustees emphasized the project is not final and pledged to hold a community meeting the next day at Crocker/Riverside to hear neighbors’ concerns. Trustee comments signaled skepticism of synthetic turf for elementary playgrounds and a desire to explore alternatives with community input.
What’s next: District staff will hold the public meeting at Crocker/Riverside on April 21 and will return to the board with additional analysis and any recommended contract approvals; parents may seek legal remedies under CEQA if they believe the district's environmental review is insufficient.
