Media Picks Up Artificial Turf Story

Floor-covering business owner Ed Ehlen poses at his Marco Island, Fla. home in January. He painted his wall pink with blue and green polka dots in protest of the city's decision that he remove the artificial turf in the foreground.

More than a dozen U.S. media outlets, including the Chicago Sun-Times, National Public Radio and Court TV, have picked up the story of a Florida man's battle with local officials over artificial turf.

The conflict developed when Ed Ehlen installed the plastic grass at his new waterfront home on Marco Island. He described it as an ecologically-sound alternative that would save significant water in the drought-affected region. But city officials say the ersatz turf contains rubber particles-which are designed to fluff up the grass-that end up in runoff when it rains. Community development director Greg Niles said he will ?EUR??,,????'??make crystal clear that synthetic material cannot be used?EUR??,,????'?? when the local planning board takes the issue up.

The city has denied Ehlen an occupancy permit for his home until he removes the artificial turf. In protest, he painted the dwelling pink with blue and green polka dots. Ehlen paid close to $20,000 to install the turf-an investment he says will result in net savings through reduced water bills.

The home's artificial turf is ?EUR??,,????'??just environmentally friendly,?EUR??,,????'?? Ehlen said. ?EUR??,,????'??We have such a water problem in Southwest Florida. You don't have to water. You don't have to fertilize. There's a lot of good things about it.?EUR??,,????'??