From the ArcaMax Publishing, Weird News Newsletter:
http://www.arcamax.com/news/weirdnews/s-183266-416737
NEW YORK (UPI) -- New York plans to spend about $150 million
installing 100 synthetic playing fields in parks across the city over
the next five years.
The artificial turf, which is supposed to be spongy enough to prevent
most injuries, is cheaper and easier for Parks Department workers to
maintain, the New York Post reported Monday.
The Parks Department started installing synthetic fields in 2002 and
there are already 74 of them in parks across the city.
The turf, consisting of plastic grass on a bed of crushed old rubber
tires, saves the city about $15,000 a year per field in maintenance
costs, said the Post.
It also provides "a softness and sponginess that's more like real
grass," said Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe.