California park installs fields with EPDM alternative infill

The City of San Mateo, Calif., has installed a GreenFields USA synthetic turf system with an environmentally friendly infill at Los Prados Park, home to many of the city’s soccer, baseball and softball teams.

The city selected GreenFields’ SlideMax XQ product along with an ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) non-SBR rubber infill. SBR rubber is made of recycled car tires. Granules based on EPDM contain about 20 to 25 percent EPDM rubber, and the rest contains chalk, processing oil, UV stabilizers, antioxidants, pigments and sulphur. The choice of ingredients — the ratio and quality of each component — and good production methods are what make EPDM infill environmentally friendly.

It marks the first synthetic field in the San Mateo city parks system. It also marks the largest synthetic turf project in California utilizing the EPDM infill, according to GreenFields USA.

GoodLand Construction and The Turf Authority installed the GreenFields SlideMax XQ synthetic turf system in the recreational soccer area and in the outfields of the baseball fields. GreenFields XP was installed on the infields, which is made of long slit or parallel fibrillated fiber for durability.

This project was the result of an in-depth study and planning process supported by a community advisory committee and the solicitation of broad community feedback.