Executive Summary

The District’ Interagency Working Group on Artificial Turf and Playgrounds was created in 2018, at the direction of the Office of the City Administrator. The multi-agency working group serves to support and ensure the safety of turf users, through the establishment of maintenance and communications guidelines and recommendations. In 2019, DGS began using new protocols for annual GMAX surface hardness testing at the District’s 56 synthetic fields. More information on the working group follows.

The mission of the Interagency Working Group on Artificial Turf and Playgrounds (the Working Group) is to provide policy recommendations to and enact decisions from District leadership related to artificial turf fields and playgrounds maintained by the District, in order to:

• Ensure all residents and visitors are provided safe and accessible recreational fields and play surfaces;
• Minimize the inconvenience caused by maintenance to regular users; and
• Use the dollars of District taxpayers wisely and efficiently.

The Working Group comprises representatives from Department of General Services (DGS), DC Public Schools (DCPS) and Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), as well as the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE), the Office of Disability Rights (ODR), the Office of the City Administrator (OCA), and the Office of the Deputy Mayor of Education (DME).

• In order to develop the next steps outlined in this overview, the Working Group took the following actions:
• Analyzed the most relevant research from government and research institutions related to hardness testing, maintenance and repair, replacement costs, temperature concerns, and potential chemical and bacterial exposure;
• Inventoried all fields, initiating a unified system for tracking status and maintenance schedules;
• Engaged residents in multiple ways (public meetings, targeted meetings with interested stakeholders, and almost 500 citywide survey respondents) to understand experiences and priorities related to fields and playgrounds; and
• Presented findings and recommendations to District leadership for approval and support.

At a minimum, fields are tested once per year, during a two week span following the end of the regular school year.

Next Steps

As a result of this work, the Working Group, on behalf of the District, is moving forward with the following next steps:

1.Surface Materials

• Continue moratorium on recycled crumb rubber;
• Include grass and other non-synthetic materials as options in all materials considerations;
• Standardize use of shock pads at installation; and,
• Develop a site suitability assessment to better inform decision-making at the local level for each site based on characteristics such as typical user and use, accessibility, size and location, and community feedback.

II. Testing

• Inspect and test surface materials hardness (GMAX) at installation and annually thereafter;
• Develop a heat index guide to better inform decision-making by on-site staff, outlining the link between ambient temperatures and surface temperatures; and,
• Continue to monitor the research related to hardness, heat, and potential chemical and bacteria exposure.

III. Maintenance

• Conduct routine maintenance on all fields in accordance with manufacturers’ guidelines;
• Build a consolidated inventory of all District-owned fields to centrally monitor status of surfaces; and,
• Train on-site staff to identify surface maintenance issues and notify DGS.

The District will maintain the Working Group to implement these next steps as well as monitor any advances in the research regarding field and playground surface materials.

Annual GMAX Testing Dates

• Fiscal Year 2023 GMAX Testing will take place during June 25th through July 8, 2023 *weather permitting.
• Fiscal Year 2022 GMAX Testing will take place during June 28th  through July 29, 2022 *weather permitting
• Fiscal Year 2021 GMAX Testing was completed June 28^th  through July 14^th, 2021
• Fiscal Year 2020 GMAX Testing was completed June 15^th through June 30^th, 2020
• Fiscal Year 2019 GMAX Testing was completed June 18^th through June 24^th, 2019
• Fiscal Year 2018 GMAX Testing was completed August 20^th through August 22^nd , 2018
• Fiscal Year 2017 GMAX Testing was during the Spring/Summer seasons of 2017

Fiscal Year 2023

• GMAX Reports 2023
• District’s 2023 Scheduled Synthetic Turf Field GMAX Testing to Begin

Fiscal Year 2022

• 2022 GMAX Test Results
• District Completes 2022 Synthetic Turf Field GMAX Testing
• District’s 2022 Scheduled Synthetic Turf Field GMAX Testing to Begin 

Fiscal Year 2021

• 2021 GMAX Press Release
• 2021 GMAX Test Results

Fiscal Year 2020

• 2020 GMAX Test Results
• 2020 GMAX Press Release
• 2020 PIP Playground Test Results

Fiscal Year 2019

• 2019 GMAX Test Results
• District Updates Turf Field Openings After Annual GMAX Testing 
• District Completes Annual Synthetic Turf Field GMAX Testing 
• District’s 2019 Scheduled Synthetic Turf Field GMAX Testing to Begin
• DGS Synthetic Turf Field Gmax Testing Schedule-June 2019
• The Recreational Surfaces Site Suitability Assessment-5-23-2019

Fiscal Year 2018

• DGS GMAX TESTING 2018
• Turf one pager
• 2018 Artificial Turf Fields Community Meeting

Fiscal Year 2017

• 2017 Turf and Field Recommendations
• 2017 GMAX Press Release

Frequently Asked Questions & Additional Information

• 2021 DGS Recreational Space Inventory
• 2020-2021 Heat Turf Advisory Graphic
• DGS Field Safety Guidelines
• Frequently Asked Questions (June 2019)
• The Artificial Turf Communication Protocols-5-23-2019
• Material Safety Data Sheets – Artificial Turf Fields
• 2019 Turf Heat Advisory Graphic
• 2018 Turf Heat Advisory Graphic

For any questions, contact the Department of General Services at [email protected]

Related Information and Resources:

• 2020 PIP Playground Test Results
• Get the Facts on Lead – DME/OCA Letter
• Water Sampling Results for DC Public Schools 
• Water Sampling Results for DC Parks & Recreation Facilities