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South Burlington approves PFAS-free synthetic turf for Veterans Park to expand playability
Summary
Council approved installing a PFAS-free synthetic turf field at Veterans Park, citing chronic drainage, extended closures, and a 12–13 year breakeven horizon from higher rentals and lower maintenance. Staff will phase work to avoid losing all fields at once.
Parks and recreation staff and the transportation/open-space project manager presented a plan to rebuild underdrains and install one synthetic turf field at Veterans Park to reduce chronic closures caused by poor soils and ponding.
"The shock pad goes the bottom most piece of the system," project manager Silken Kirschner explained while describing the assembly: gravel and fabric, shock pad, sand, and the artificial grass with Brock infill that is PFAS-free. Staff highlighted hydrologic Group D soils on the site—slow infiltration that causes frequent spring closures—and argued a rebuilt field with a synthetic surface would expand season length and program access.
Staff provided cost estimates: turf materials and installation about $334,000; subbase and materials roughly $116,000; and engineering about $44,700 (the latter covering broader park engineering). Presenters estimated increased rental revenue and maintenance savings could put breakeven at roughly 12–13 years compared with a grass field, projecting net annual revenue near $33,400 versus about $10,000 for grass.
Councilors questioned lifespan, heat, and drainage; staff cited Somerville’s six-year-old Brock field and other case studies showing long service lives with low maintenance and recommended sole-sourcing the Brock infill option. Public works director Tom DiPietro outlined a phased approach—construct one new turf field, then address drainage on remaining fields in subsequent seasons—to avoid removing all playing surfaces at once.
A motion to approve the turf field as presented was moved and seconded and passed by voice vote. Councilors said the project would improve equity for recreation programs, reduce canceled events, and offer long-term value despite environmental tradeoffs, which staff said were mitigated by the PFAS-free infill option.
