Astroturf. Does that word conjure images of a scratchy ground cover whose shade of green is not found in nature? Apparently the city of Garden Grove has had a bad taste in its mouth since the ban of artificial turf as ground cover went into effect in 1992. The ordinance specifically bans simulated or synthetic greenery, including artificial plants, requiring all unpaved areas to be planted. Garden Grove is one of five cities in Orange County having barred homeowners from using the turf, most of which instituted the ban for aesthetic reasoning, but there have also been concerns about lead content in the artificial grasses, particularly in older imitations. More recently, a consumer product report indicated that the worry is in vain, since there is no risk of lead exposure to young children in new artificial turf fields. Yet the ban has remained.
An initiative in direct conflict to the ban is the Orange County Municipal Water District's rebate plan for homes that have faux lawns installed. In response to California's declared drought condition, the water organization encourages people to select more water-efficient alternatives for landscaping. A $300 rebate is, therefore, negated by the ban, however, two months into the drought, city officials are reconsidering. An outpouring of community protest and petition has resulted in officials weighing whether or not regulating the aesthetic of neighborhood yards should remain a priority over conservation. The City Council met recently to revisit the ban, and still has yet to make a decision. In the short term, it has refrained from enforcing the ordinance.