Grass or Turf for Theme Parks? Learn the Pros and Cons

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Many people are surprised to learn that artificial grass is used at theme parks, water parks, and recreation areas. This is because they are often unfamiliar with the material and the fact it can get wet and stand up against many damaging factors
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If you are considering using it in your theme park, water park, or any other area where the material will be exposed to heavy foot traffic and extreme weather conditions, consider these pros and cons of turf for theme parks.

Pros of Theme Park Artificial Turf

• It looks real. This is the number one reason you would use artificial grass in a theme park or any other place that guests will be exposed to it. There are many different varieties of turf that look very much like the real thing and even feel like the real thing underfoot, which helps with authenticity.
• It can stand up to water. These days, many varieties of artificial grass are specifically designed to be used in settings that receive heavy foot traffic and get rained on or snowed on regularly. The synthetic fibers are very good at standing up against moisture, but it is important to choose turf that can handle the amount of exposure your theme park gets every day.
• It is safe for pets. Many people like to bring their dogs with them when they go on vacation, and theme parks usually welcome four-legged friends. However, many pet owners don't want to leave their babies at home because they can walk all over the grass and be exposed to dirt and germs that could make them very sick. Synthetic turf is extremely sanitary, safe for pets, and can be hosed off after they play on it.
• It reduces water runoff. Water runoff is a huge problem at theme parks because all of the standing water can make park areas unsafe for guests and lead to bacteria buildup that causes people to get sick. When you use artificial turf, you can capture the water in drains and avoid this problem.
• It reduces erosion. Erosion is another very common problem that theme park owners struggle with because it ruins landscape, leaves behind debris, and can cause safety hazards for guests who slip on slopes or low spots where mud is present. Artificial turf helps to stop runoff which stops erosion, which means a safer and cleaner theme park.
• It is eco-friendly. Many people choose artificial grass because it is recycled, recyclable, and made from renewable resources. This makes it very eco-friendly and helps to protect the environment in many ways, such as conserving water and reducing air pollution by using less power than other landscaping materials.
• It is durable and lasts a long time. One of the biggest benefits of turf for theme parks is that it is extremely durable and doesn't have to be replaced often. This means you save money on landscaping costs in the long run, which helps to increase your ROI on this type of investment.

Cons of Theme Park Artificial Turf

• It needs to be maintained. If you do choose turf for your theme park, it will need to be cleaned regularly and kept free of debris such as leaves, pine needles, seeds, sticks, rocks, etc. This is because these things can get stuck between the fibers and ruin them or cause tripping hazards that could result in injury.
• It is expensive. While artificial turf is a more economical landscaping choice, in the long run, it can be very expensive to purchase and install in the beginning. This is because you have to remove all of your existing landscaping materials before installing new ones, which means ripping up the grass, removing dirt from beds, removing irrigation systems, and more.
• It can get hot. Because artificial turf does not allow water to evaporate from the surface as quickly as real grass does, it actually absorbs heat and causes the air around that area to be hotter than normal. This is a huge problem for theme parks because guests could experience discomfort and even develop serious health problems like dehydration and heatstroke.
• It may not look as natural as real grass. Some people feel that artificial turf loses its appeal because it doesn't look as realistic or fresh as real grass does, especially during sunny days when the colors of fake grass can tend to fade and appear more yellowish.
• It is difficult to grow seeds and plants in it. While you can grow flowers and other plants that produce seeds in turf, they don't usually take root very well and struggle to survive. It is also difficult for them to get the amount of sunlight and water they need in order to really thrive.

Pros of Natural Grass for Theme Parks

• It looks very natural and is pleasant for guests to view. One of the greatest benefits of real grass is that it just looks so much more appealing than artificial turf does. Natural grass feels soft underfoot, smells fresh, and creates a beautiful aesthetic.
• It's easy to plant seeds and other plants in it. Unlike artificial turf, there is no need to rip everything out before installing new grass. Grass can be planted and grown in the same spot you had it before and simply spread over the old growth, which saves a lot of time and money.
• It has less upkeep than turf for theme parks does. Real grass only needs to be mowed every week or two and can be watered daily or a couple of times per week, depending on the weather. It doesn't need to be cleaned nearly as much either, which means landscaping crews won't have to work as hard, and guests won't trip over debris that is left behind after landscaping.

Cons of Natural Grass for Theme Parks

• It needs to be installed correctly in order to grow properly. When grass is first planted, it has to be watered daily or several times per week depending on the weather until it takes root and starts spreading. If it is not installed correctly or gets too much sun/shade, it can die off very quickly without enough water.
• It can be expensive to maintain. Real grass will need to be mowed every week or two, which means you'll have to purchase a lawnmower in order to keep it looking nice. A professional landscaping crew may need to come out and water the grass once or twice per day when it's especially hot during the summer months.
• It will need upkeep even after it's installed. Once real grass is already planted in your theme park, there are certain measures that need to be taken to maintain its quality, or else guests could slip on it or pull up the blades by accident. This includes removing dead patches of grass and rinsing off the blades after it rains.

Both Materials Have Advantages

Both artificial turf and real grass have their pros and cons, so it can be difficult to choose one or the other. Real grass is very appealing to guests because it's natural, soft underfoot, aesthetically pleasing, easy to plant seeds in, and has less upkeep than turf does. But on the other hand, it needs more upkeep, requires professional landscapers to install, can be very expensive to replace any dead patches or damaged areas of grass, and still needs regular cleaning even after installation.

Artificial turf may not look as nice aesthetically, and some people feel that it's not as realistic looking as real grass is. Some guests could also experience discomfort if they sit on areas of turf that have been recently cleaned and dried. But on the other hand, it doesn't need as much upkeep as real grass does, and you don't need to pay for professional landscapers or irrigation equipment in order to keep it looking fresh.