Letter: Neighborhood Organizations urge ban on artificial turf

Dec. 8, 2025

To: Members of Santa Monica Recreation and Parks Commission, City Manager Chi, Members of Santa Monica City Council, SMMUSD Board of Education and SMC Board of Trustees,  

The Boards of the Neighborhood Organizations listed below are in full SUPPORT of the Artificial Turf Ban Resolution passed by the Santa Monica Democratic Club on Tuesday, November 11, 2025. 

We look forward to seeing an immediate prohibition of net new installation of artificial turf on locally owned public land in Santa Monica incorporated into the upcoming Santa Monica Parks and Recreation Vision Plan.

Grass fields are especially relevant to the Santa Monica Neighborhood Organizations because the playing fields at our local schools are among the only outdoor play areas in many of our neighborhoods, and in some cases are the only recreational fields, due to our severe shortage of parks.

We have heard throughout our neighborhoods that children and parents want grass fields. 

The Neighborhood Organizations thank and appreciate the Santa Monica Democratic Club, and its President Jon Katz, for taking up this important issue. Their recently passed, “Resolution Calling for Ban on Artificial Turf on Public Land in Santa Monica,” speaks very clearly to the serious environmental, health and safety concerns that our communities have about artificial turf. 

This is following the precedent set by the Westside Regional Alliance of Councils on the Westside of Los Angeles who recently voted to support the transition away from the use of synthetic turf and artificial grass and the LAUSD School Board who voted to prohibit new artificial turf installations at early education, elementary, and middle schools.

We would welcome an opportunity to further discuss the goals and desires of our neighborhoods and would be pleased if any (or all) the individuals in receipt of this email were to reply to set up a brief time for a discussion and ongoing dialogue.  

In solidarity, 

The Boards of: 
Friends of Sunset Park
North of Montana Association (NOMA)
Pico Neighborhood Association 
Santa Monica Mid City Neighbors 
Santa Monica Northeast Neighbors
Wilshire Montana Neighborhood Coalition (Wilmont)