New York switches from real to fake grass

NEW YORK, April 16 (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.