Editorial: Fake is the real deal

Thursday, Aug. 5, 2004 | 8:57 a.m.

Businesses, homeowners and local governments in Southern Nevada have cut their water use during this extreme drought, mainly by replacing grass with desert landscaping. The city of Las Vegas is embracing yet one more option that offers promise: It has budgeted $1 million to pay for the conversion of some of its recreational fields from real grass to artificial turf. The plan also will include the installation of artificial turf on seven fields at a new 130-acre, $30 million park being built in Summerlin.

The city decided to go forward after trying artificial turf on two soccer fields at Ed Fountain Park for three months. One girls' soccer coach told a Sun reporter that the artificial turf was great and comparable to the real thing. Another plus is that, unlike grass, artificial fields don't need to be rested after repeated use, which means they can be played on more frequently, increasing their availability for residents. One drawback, and something that will have to be closely monitored for safety's sake, is that in the summer artificial grass can get a lot hotter than natural grass. So some water will be needed to cool it. And while artificial turf costs more to install -- $300,000 to $400,000 for artificial turf versus $100,000 for grass -- the price tag is worth it considering the ongoing drought. Replacing real grass on just one soccer field will cut water consumption from 4 million gallons a year to 800,000 gallons a year, and save $8,000 a year in the process.

Installing artificial grass on recreational fields is just the kind of public policy we need during this severe period of drought.