THE MOMENT IS FINALLY HERE! 🌿 Turf is on the agenda

Memorial Park is Going Green—Now Let’s Make it Official for All of Santa Monica!

The Victory

Because of your relentless advocacy, City staff have officially listened. In the revised plan for the Memorial Park Redevelopment (Item 11 on the upcoming agenda), they have removed synthetic turf from the design—Fields 1 through 4 will be NATURAL GRASS! This is a massive win, but it is not the finish line. We have a historic opportunity to turn this "win" into a permanent, city-wide policy. On Tuesday, January 27, the City Council will vote on these plans. We need to make sure they don't just approve Memorial Park, but also commit to a clear standard: No more public dollars for new plastic grass in Santa Monica.

How to Take Action

✍️ Action 1: Send the "Finish the Job" Email

Choose one of the templates below and send it to the City Council.

  • To: councilmtgitems@santamonica.gov
  • CC: caroline.torosis@santamonica.gov, jesse.zwick@santamonica.gov, lana.negrete@santamonica.gov, dan.hall@santamonica.gov, ellis.raskin@santamonica.gov, barry.snell@santamonica.gov, natalya.zernitskaya@santamonica.gov
  • Deadline: Tuesday, Jan 27 by 12:00 PM
  • Subject: Items 11C & D: Support Natural Grass at Memorial & A "No New Turf" Policy

Option A: The Comprehensive Template (Recommended)

Dear Mayor and City Council,

I am writing to express my enthusiastic support for the revised Memorial Park Redevelopment plan that designates Fields 1-4 as natural grass. Thank you for listening to the community and choosing a cooler, safer, and truly sustainable future for this landmark park.

I urge the Council to solidify this leadership by formalizing a city-wide policy that prohibits any future taxpayer spending on new synthetic turf installations. Memorial Park has shown that natural grass is the preferred choice for our residents. By committing to living soil across the city, we uphold our 2013 Sustainability Rights Ordinance and protect our watershed from microplastics.

Let’s keep Santa Monica’s public land green and living. No more public dollars for plastic grass!

Sincerely, [Your Name] [Your Neighborhood]

Option B: The Quick "One-Paragraph" Option

Dear Mayor and City Council,

Thank you for listening to the community and choosing natural grass for the new Memorial Park fields. I urge you to now formalize this commitment by passing a city-wide policy that prohibits all future taxpayer spending on new synthetic turf. Let's protect our health, our budget, and our 2013 Sustainability Rights Ordinance by keeping Santa Monica’s public lands living and plastic-free.

Sincerely, [Your Name] [Your Neighborhood]

Option C: The Sustainability Commission Recommendation

Dear Mayor and City Council,

Thank you for removing turf from the Memorial Park plan. I now urge you to adopt the full Sustainability Commission recommendation: 1) No new artificial sports fields will be installed in the city; 2) Existing grass fields will be maintained as grass fields; and 3) When existing artificial turf fields reach the end of their useful life, the city will replace them with durable natural alternative materials.

Let's uphold our commitment to a living "City as a Habitat."

Sincerely, [Your Name] [Your Neighborhood]

đź“Ł Action 2: Speak at the Meeting

We aren't protesters; we are partners in a Living Santa Monica. Use your 2 minutes of public comment to bridge the win at Memorial Park to a city-wide policy.

Sample Talking Points (2-Minute Script):

  • False Choice - Saying we need turf for access is a false choice.  We don’t have to choose between access and grass.  New grasses and new maintenance methods can give us durable, hardy, water-smart fields.  Let’s choose healthy access to sports fields for our community.
  • Celebrate the Win: "I want to start by thanking the staff and Council for listening to the community. Choosing natural grass for the Memorial Park fields is a massive victory for our health and our environment."
  • The Precedent: "By saving Memorial Park from plastic, you’ve proved that natural grass is the superior choice for our premier parks. Now, let’s make that the standard for all of Santa Monica."
  • No More Loopholes: "We urge the Council to formalize a policy of no new taxpayer spending on synthetic turf. Memorial Park has shown us the way—now let’s ensure no other neighborhood has to fight this battle again."
  • Fiscal Common Sense: "We already have maintenance liabilities at Airport and Belmar parks. Let's not add more 'plastic subscriptions' to our budget. Let's invest in living, cooling assets instead."

Meeting Details (Agenda)

  • When: Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at 5:30 PM
  • Where: Santa Monica City Hall (1685 Main St) or via Zoom (see below).
  • Goal: Thank the Council for saving Memorial Park and urge them to adopt a formal city-wide "No New Turf" policy.

Oral Public Comment

In-person: Persons wishing to address the City Council regarding items on the agenda must be present and submit their name and address (optional) to the City Clerk before the public hearing is opened for that item. Register to speak at the Speaker Kiosk prior to the meeting and throughout the meeting.

Telephone: Persons wishing to address the Council by telephone must register at santamonica.gov/public-comment no later than 5:00 p.m. the day before a meeting (MONDAY). Showing electronic presentation materials are not permitted when commenting by telephone.
Click the link and fill out the form, choose yes on number 8 and choose 11.D.

Item 11D Detail:

You can find the current recommendation in this detail: https://santamonicacityca.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_LegiFile.aspx?Frame=&MeetingID=1476&MediaPosition=&ID=7255&CssClass=

CURRENT CITY STAFF RECOMMENDATION (in Memorial Park Plan):

We are asking the city council to take this recommendation further and say no new artificial turf full stop.