Thanks to all for continuing to share this petition, the fight for Franklin continues, but in the meantime…

We have the chance to set a new, turf-free direction for all our Santa Monica parks and schoolyards for a generation to come.  The city of Santa Monica has put forth a new vision for the community plan for our parks.  In the past, the city has installed synthetic turf on sports fields.  Now is the chance to make sure this new plan includes only natural grass going forward. 

ACTION OPPORTUNITY FOR CITY PARKS

📣 Come to the meeting and share a public comment.

🗓️ Wednesday, September 3, 2025 at 7:00 p.m

📍 Virginia Avenue Park Patio Room, 2200 Virginia Ave. Santa Monica, CA 90404 

SEND A PUBLIC COMMENT VIA EMAIL

📧 Send your public comment to the Rec and Parks Commission

🗓️ DUE BY Wednesday, September 3, 2025 at NOON

✍️ Check out some sample letters and find the contact information for commission members in our guide.

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AN UPDATE ON THE FRANKLIN PLAN

And now for an update on our Franklin campaign. At the May 15 SMMUSD meeting, the Board voted unanimously to approve the Franklin Elementary plan including the synthetic turf field. While this is deeply disappointing, it’s not the whole story.

First, let's be clear: your voices were heard. The debate on this issue was far more robust and critical than the district expected, and that is entirely because of you. We heard board members echo our concerns about safety, health, and the environment.

In fact, the district has now announced they will conduct a study on the turf issue, with a report expected this fall. This is a direct result of our community speaking out. Now is the time to double down and keep the pressure on.  The district has acknowledged that final decisions on new turf projects and contracts are still many months away, which provides the community a chance to continue the dialogue with the district on this issue.

This fight has always been bigger than one school. It's about the future of all public play spaces in Santa Monica. Right now, the city is developing its new Parks and Recreation Vision Plan, and we are at a pivotal moment. 

To win this larger fight—and to ensure the Franklin turf contract is never signed—we need to organize our support and make sure we can keep you in the loop as we take our campaign city-wide.

This is why we've created a new community survey. It's the best way to let us know you're in this fight with us.

✍️ Please take 3 minutes to fill out the survey to join the next phase of our campaign.

By filling out the survey, you'll be on our list for important updates and actions as we engage with the city's Recreation & Parks planning process and the SMMUSD turf conversation. It's also a crucial space for you to share your personal testimonials and experiences with artificial turf—these stories, particularly youth’s experiences, are incredibly powerful and will be essential for showing decision-makers the real-world impacts of their choices.

The vote at Franklin was a setback, but our movement is making a real impact–key for the health of our children and community. We have an opportunity to win a generational victory for our community. Please fill out the survey today and share it widely.

Thank you for being in this with us. 🙏