Is fake grass a bad idea? The AstroTurf wars are far from over. Around the country, heated debates have erupted, with neighbors arguing over whether to install artificial turf on their land.

At Cornell University, a rare warm spell in January revealed the newest athletic field: an acre of synthetic turf, bristly and tough underfoot but springy and squeaky. Environmental advocate Yayoi Koizumi has been fighting synthetic-turf projects since 2023, seeing it as “really maddening” because of its plastic content.

The new pitch is part of a $70 million plan to build more recreational space at the university. While proponents tout its cost-effectiveness and durability, critics raise concerns about microplastics, toxic chemicals, and environmental pollution. The US alone has installed close to 120,000 metric tons of synthetic turf in just over two decades.

In towns where real estate is limited and demand for athletic facilities high, artificial turf seems tempting. But as Frank Rossi, a professor of turf science at Cornell, notes: “It all comes down to land and demand.”