Artificial turf fields - Expensive non-essentials

Artificial Turf (AT).

In a nutshell - Artificial turf (AT) fields are expensive ... Very Expensive ... 
and the Teigen Plan for Wellington Hills Park hankers for, not one, but four artificial turf fields - with stadium lights. 

It's only money.

These giant outdoor carpets are costly to purchase, to install and to maintain. But there's more! ... AT fields need to be repaired and replaced on a regular basis. 

The average single turf field costs approximately $1,000,000 and yearly maintenance will run about $20,000.* Cool, huh? These non-essential seasonal toys have a life expectancy of approximately 10 years.

Doing the math ... the Parks Dept. wants to spend approximately $4,000,000 for turf fields in Wellington Hills Park ... which will then require maintenance to the tune of $80,000 a year. 

Then, after 10 years of specialized maintenance, when it comes time for the County to buy replacement turf, don't twitch when your taxes go up.

ps: Who would benefit from using Wellington Hills Park artificial turf fields? 
                          I'll give a clue - private organizations.


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The following is from Snohomish County Document, "Executive/Council Approval Form" dated June 7, 2013 and prepared by Tom Teigen, Director, Snohomish County Parks and Recreation.

"Synthetic Turf Development and Maintenance Costs - Typical costs for each lit synthetic turf field are $900,000 — $1,200,000 depending on site specific drainage conditions. Synthetic turf fields require maintenance activities consisting of adding infill materials, drainage repair and removing organic materials that might accumulate. 

Typical annual maintenance costs of artificial turf fields are around $12,000 per field compared with typical annual maintenance costs of natural turf fields of $8,000. Synthetic turf fields should be considered for either major renovation or replacement every 10 —15 years."

pg. 1 of a 14 page PDF

* this figure is based on the average costs associated with artificial fields not in Snohomish County.