Judge Weiner Signs Off On Settlement, Officially Ending 10-Year Turf Lawsuit

Judge Weiner has signed off on the stipulation for entry of judgment and settlement agreement yesterday afternoon, ending the Save San Carlos Parks v. San Carlos lawsuit, said assistant city manager Brian Moura.

The decision ends a decade-long battle that cost the city nearly $85,000 in lawyers fees. With the decision made final, San Carlos will begin to move forward with their plans to install turf on the Highland Park grounds

The use of synthetic turf was recommended by Mark M. Mahady & Associates, a Carmel Valley agronomical consulting firm hired by the city to assess the amount of damage being done to parks from overuse. Mahady concluded the park use was at 300 percent. Yet even after the city reduced field use by scheduling less practices and activities, the natural turf was still at risk.

Installation of synthetic turf will cost the city more than $2 million with some funds coming from a $6 annual parcel tax approved by voters in 1999 that generates about $60,000 each year, an amount matched by the city, and is scheduled to expire in 2011.  The remainder well be paid by a $1 million donation from the Palo Alto Medical Foundation.

Synthetic turf being installed by San Carlos will be manufactured from ground coconut husks, unlike other turf products traditionally made from recycled tires. The turf will be a light tan color and will raise the temperature of the field 10 to 15 degrees.