How is the turf cleaned? Is a special detergent required?
The Recreation and Park Department regularly cleans the fields of debris and grooms the turf to improve play. While different brands of turf have slightly different maintenance requirements, the basics are the same — weekly sweeping to pick up small debris like leaves and bottle caps, and bi-monthly grooming using a large “broom drag” to even out the rubber infill and raise the turf fibers. Some companies also suggest bi-monthly grooming using a “field groomer” which loosens the infill and brushes the fibers up. Special detergents are not recommended for synthetic turf fields and are not used in San Francisco. When the turf requires extra cleaning, park staff uses soap and water as recommended by the turf manufacturers.
