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Vista, Calif. Opts for Synthetic Turf 09-16-15 | News

Vista, Calif. Opts for Synthetic Turf
Replacement of Natural Grass Will Help City Meet State's Stringent Water-Conservation Mandates

EasyTurf removed 8,700 square feet of natural grass from the Moonlight Amphitheatre's main theater audience seating area in Vista, Calif., replacing it with synthetic turf. The move reflects another instance of a company seeking to meet California's mandate to reduce water consumption by 24 percent.

Turf EasyTurf has completed an 8,700-square-foot synthetic turf replacement project for the Moonlight Amphitheatre in Vista, Calif. (93,834), a community in northwest San Diego County.

The project, valued at more than $100,000, is part of the city's ongoing effort to conserve water in California's continuing drought conditions. Note: On the day of this writing, Sept. 15, record rainfall fell in the early morning in the southland. Downtown L.A. received 2.39" of rain, the second wettest September day recorded by the downtown observation station since 1877, and the wettest day in downtown L.A. in two years and 7 months.

The grass was removed in the theater's main audience seating area, which features a combination of fixed row seats and open space for lawn chairs and picnicking. The natural grass required considerable water and maintenance (mowing, fertilizing and aeration) throughout the theater's busy summer season, often including hand-watering to combat brown spots and dying grass.

For EasyTurf, which is based in Vista, Calif., this is the second turf-replacement project completed for the city. In June, over 11,000 square feet of synthetic turf was installed at the Vista Sports Park as part of a soccer warm-up area. The natural grass was difficult to maintain with the heavy use and dry conditions.

Water savings was the primary reason the city chose to replace the natural grass with synthetic turf, helping the city in its efforts to reduce water consumption by 24 percent as mandated by the state. The city's Public Works Department estimates the new turf will reduce water usage by 196,000 gallons per year.

Vista has applied for a rebate through the San Diego County Water Authority to recoup a sizable portion of the grass-replacement costs. The WaterSmart Turf Replacement program offers eligible residents, businesses and public agencies $1.50 per square foot to replace natural turf with water-efficient landscaping options better suited to the county's semi-arid climate.

EasyTurf installations include Disneyland and Disneyworld, SeaWorld, Legoland, San Diego Zoo and Safari Park, Humane Societies nationwide and at Cesar Millan's (the "dog whisperer") Dog Psychology Center (dog training) in Santa Clarita.