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1 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Our View: The right (non) move on pot sales ... Jeffrey Gillespie: Evaluating the Trump bump ... Family Fun Bike Ride set for Saturday ... Our View: The right (non) move on pot sales ... Jeffrey Gillespie: Evaluating the Trump bump ... Family Fun Bike Ride set for Saturday ... GUEST OPINION Guest Opinion: Why syn-grass medians are a bad idea Comment By Kristina Lefever DailyTidings.com By Kristina Lefever Posted Jul. 22, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Kristina Lefever Posted Jul. 22, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News I am certainly glad that the city is looking at saving water for such an unnecessary luxury as green grass. But there are many, better alternatives to this turf, even considering the fact that it is not made from ground-up tires. First, here are three reasons (with questions) as to why not to use this turf in the median strip, or anywhere: 1. It condones and sets a precedent for people to use such an energy-intensive product in their own lawns instead of considering other alternatives that will not negatively affect our environment. Yes, the bottles and plastic are not in the landfill. Why do we want them on our "lawns" instead? 2. What will happen to this stuff five, 10, 15, even 50 years from now? How will it degrade over time into the dirt underneath (because it certainly won't be soil there)? How will water runoff and emissions from the degrading plastic affect plants and soil life in the surrounding area? Will this "grass" make it into the landfill once it is no longer needed, or will it just somehow "disappear" into the dirt? (I think the lifespan of plastic — whether from soybeans, recycled, or not — is somewhere close to infinity.) I asked a landscaper friend his opinion about "fake grass." Here are some of his comments: "My experience (in Tucson, Ariz.) has been with homes that I was working on as a landscaper. We would have to rake, sweep and/or use the blower to get debris out of the fake grass and it was quite time- and energy-intensive to do so. I've also experienced fake grass fading and needing to be torn up, taken to the dump (where it lasts for way too long) and re-done. If it rains on fake grass, you get runoff and possibly erosion as opposed to water being slowed, sunk and stored. Fake grass can't sequester carbon from the atmosphere or release oxygen like a plant can, but creates more CO2 and pollution through its manufacture, transportation, packaging, advertisement, installation, maintenance and disposal." 3. Is the company providing a subsidy to install this first purchase, vs. our cost later when all these plastic sheets need to be replaced? What process is needed to pull it up in 15 years (or 25) when the warranty is out? Does the company take it back and recycle it? Second, I understand and completely agree with the city's desire to reduce maintenance costs and energy and water usage, as well as reduce the need to have people working in the median strip in busy traffic. Why not consider things that are attractive and appropriate for this town as a place — our identity, as well as our climate and weather — needing little or no maintenance and water? Here are a few ideas — better minds than mine can come up with more: Pretty, pervious pavers, set apart just enough so that low-growing thyme and other ground covers fill in between them. The pavers could be made by local artists and set in different patterns. Drought- and deer- tolerant plants and grasses inside a perimeter of different sized rocks and/or stones set on fabric or cardboard. Art installations from the community representing Ashland and the valley, instead of plants, set on a pervious surface. Design the medians to collect rain water and funnel it to where it's needed and/or to a cistern. Here is something to get the city started along those lines:  http://bit.ly/1gN3anx . Thanks to the city for asking the community. There are a lot of people in Ashland with the knowledge to help the city save water and resources. I look forward to seeing a compilation of the responses to the syn-grass. Kristina Lefever lives in Ashland. By Kristina Lefever DailyTidings.com By Kristina Lefever Posted Jul. 22, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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