Mounds View Unveils New FieldTurf EcoGreen Field

Mounds View High School’s Mustang Stadium in Arden Hills, Minn., was among the first facilities in the state to acquire synthetic turf in 2004. School officials are on the leading edge again, with the installation of their new FieldTurf artificial surface featuring EcoGreen infill, environmentally friendly thermoplastic elastomer pellets (or TPE) that reduce heat build-up all while delivering the same behavior and overall stability.

During the decision-making process, Mounds View officials were faced with misleading news reports linking cancer to crumb rubber infill — a connection that has been rebuked numerous times since by toxicologists, hematologists, local and state health officials.

Concerned about turf safety? Learn more Here.

“There was enough happening at the time that we couldn’t afford to put the field in and then have to tear it out,” says Robert Madison, activities director at Mounds View High, referring to potential public outcry about the project — specifically, the type of infill used. “We didn’t see anything to be concerned about with the infill, but why should we use crumb rubber if we don’t need to?”

The Mounds View project features FieldTurf’s XM6 system which is built using a longer blade that makes infill less visible and, Madison says, the field more aesthetically pleasing. EcoGreen also keeps the surface at least 10 degrees cooler than a generic artificial turf system with traditional rubber infill.

Officials at Mounds View Public Schools will replace the turf football field at Irondale High next year, and Madison adds it likely will feature an environmentally friendly infill, too — perhaps even FieldTurf’s PureFill cork infill.

Learn more on EcoGreen, TPE and other alternative infill materials Here.