Modern synthetic fields are providing game-changing benefits that are too hard to ignore.
It is easy to see why this advanced “grass” has grown on us. Changes to its composition and materials over time have propelled its look, feel and usability. This and more has created a high demand for these surfaces, especially in K-12 school districts.
Greater Playability
Unlike sprawling college campuses, most K-12 schools have limited land for sports, yet are still looking to offer as many options as possible to their students. When compared to natural fields that often take a beating with each use, durable artificial turf can provide greater playability by hosting multiple sports, back-to-back, while remaining in tact.
Batter Up
All-weather surfaces enrich playing seasons, especially in cold or wet climates where rain-flooded or snow and ice-covered playing surfaces are all too common. To ensure all sports programs can commence and stay on schedule, synthetic sod can be an excellent solution. Not only can it be easily snow plowed, but it can also drained, so water doesn’t pool or collect long enough to freeze.
Safety First
Play on natural grass creates wear such as divots and uneven play surfaces. Combine this with weather-produced hazards like standing water, ice, slippery mud, or sunbaked ground and risk for injury rises.
Engineered turf provides a more consistent, safer play surface by eliminating most of these common issues. For instance, turf field construction provides more predictability when it comes to GMAX testing, which measures impact attenuation – the ability of the playing surface to absorb the “shock”, or kinetic energy – from a collision.
Economics
Watering, mowing, re-seeding, fertilizing, and drainage repairs are just a few of the regular maintenance tasks needed to keep natural sod alive and healthy. Annual expenses often reach or exceed five-figures leaving many schools struggling with the cost. In contrast, artificial grass needs just one grooming/maintenance per year (sometimes two, depending on use), and is just a fraction of the maintenance cost to keep up natural sod. With an average life of 10-12 years, investing in engineered grass makes sense.
The Wow Factor
With pre-striping, school branding and lasting color options, these perpetually green fields consistently rally a spirited response.
Today’s synthetic fields are a beautiful, safe, and economical solution for school athletics. With long-term use, low maintenance, and a rowdy boost to school pride, every school and student scores from play on their own artificial turf.
