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Neighbors tell school board artificial turf creates heat and nuisance; call for removal or relocation
Summary
Several residents told trustees artificial turf at a district complex raises surface temperatures, damages yards and creates a neighborhood nuisance; speakers proposed removing lights and moving turf to Highland, citing surface readings (199°F) and watering needs.
Residents and neighbors addressed the board Aug. 4 with complaints about artificial turf and oversized lighting at a district facility. Rhett Jepsen told trustees the district changed a facility design without an impact study, ignored neighborhood concerns raised by architects, and that surface measurements on the playground turf reached 199°F, which he said damaged lawns, gardens and animals.
"The artificial turf on the children's playground was 199 degrees," Jepsen said, describing repeated daily watering used to cool the surface and asking the board to instruct the district to remove the sources of the nuisance. Another neighbor, Willow Jepsen, warned artificial turf can amplify urban heat‑island effects and contribute microplastics to groundwater, and urged the board to take ownership and direct remediation. Speakers suggested relocating the turf to Highland and restoring natural grass at Roslyn Heights as practical solutions.
Board members acknowledged the concerns and invited staff to continue engagement; staff responses on specific remediation pathways and impact studies were discussed later in the meeting.
