About the Project: 
This project converts two natural grass athletic fields at Kenmore Middle School to synthetic turf to allow for more sports, longer play hours, and through more weather conditions. The project's scope includes: 

  • Updating field space to accommodate multiple sports and standardize field sizing . 
  • ​Providing improved sports amenities. 
  • Improving access along 2nd Street South. 
  • Replacing lighting with upgraded LED technology. 
  • Adding seating, walkways, circulation, ADA accessibility, and stormwater management. 
  • Enhancing trees and landscaping.

Staff heard some requests for this project that fall outside of our project scope, budget, or authority to address. We are grateful for your feedback, but at this time the Kenmore Field Conversion Project will not include: 

  • Construction of expanded restroom facilities. 
  • Additional parking at Kenmore Middle School, Carlin Springs Elementary School, or along 2nd Street South. 
  • Updates to traffic lights and signal timings along Carlin Springs Rd. 

Addressing Traffic Concerns:

Given recent comments related to traffic safety around the project site, the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) has been working very closely with the Department of Environmental Services (DES) to ensure traffic concerns are being addressed through other projects. The Kenmore Synthetic Turf Conversion project will continue to focus on the existing athletic fields at the site and related amenities. In the meantime, DES continues to focus on: 

·  Improved pedestrian crossings at 3rd Street South.  

·  Improved traffic signal timing at 3rd Street South. 

·  Sidewalk improvements.

·  Upcoming 2026 Carlin Springs Corridor Study.

 

To learn more about these projects, click here.  

 

Addressing Community Feedback: 

During the first community engagement opportunity, staff heard feedback about the conversions of natural grass fields to synthetic turf. Over the past 20 years, these conversions are part of the County's Synthetic Turf Program to help meet the demands of our sports community by increasing the available hours of playtime and limiting postponements and cancellations due to inclement weather. 

Specifically, we heard community concerns about the materials used in synthetic turf fields, the surface temperatures of the fields, and the potential for injuries. The County has been looking into these topics for many years and has taken steps to address them through: 

     Improved Materials:  

  • The County’s three newest synthetic turf fields use an organic infill material that reduces the risk of exposure to contaminants associated with rubber infill. 
  • For the Kenmore synthetic fields, it is anticipated that organic infill will be used such as coconut husks or walnut husks.
  • Organic infill has the advantage of being compostable or reused as mulch at the end of its life. 

     Lower Surface Temperatures: 

  • Early observations of new organic infill material used at three Arlington County turf fields have shown significantly reduced surface temperatures (up to 30 degrees) as compared to crumb rubber and EPDM.      

     Decreased Potential for Injuries:  

  • ​​One way the County tests the safety of material used for our synthetic turf fields is the GMAX test (the standard test method for impact reduction of a playing surface, systems, and materials). A higher GMAX rating means that the surface is harder and could potentially be more dangerous for athletes. All synthetic turf fields in Arlington maintain an appropriate GMAX rating as determined by the American Society for Testing Materials. The County annually monitors each synthetic turf field to ensure safe playing conditions through its lifecycle.   


You can find more information on Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about synthetic turf use in Arlington here.