The Tools to Win the Argument — and Change the Policy.

The fight for play equity is won one policy decision at a time — in city council chambers, school board meetings, planning commission hearings, and state legislative sessions. Playing for Keeps has developed a comprehensive toolkit to equip advocates, parents, community leaders, and policymakers with the science, the arguments, and the language they need to make the case.

Everything here is free to download and use.

Who This toolkit is for

  • Parents and community members preparing to speak at a public meeting
  • Municipal staff or elected officials evaluating turf policy options
  • School district administrators navigating procurement decisions
  • Advocates and coalition partners engaged in turf policy debates
  • Journalists and researchers seeking credible source material
  • Attorneys and policy professionals working on related legislation

Downloadable resources

Fact Sheet

Artificial turf 101: What the science actually shows

A concise, plain language overview of the peer-reviewed research on PFAS, microplastics, surface heat, and comparative risk – separating documented evidence from precautionary rhetoric.

Fact Sheet

The equity case for turf access

The documented public health consequences of play access inequity, the real-world effects of turf bans on underserved communities, and the statistical foundation for treating play infrastructure as a social justice issue.

Speaking Toolkit

Speaking at city council or school board meetings

Everything you need to speak up at a council or board meeting: a three-minute comment guide and a leave-behind for decision-makers.

Advocate Guide

a framework for evidence-based turf policy

A guide for advocates meeting with elected officials, organized by the concerns officials raise most: equity, playing time, chemical safety, end-of-life and cost. For each concern, it offers talking points and specific asks to make before a blanket turf ban is considered.

Source Summary

Peer-Reviewed Research: Annotated Bibliography

A curated and annotated list of peer-reviewed studies, government reports, and expert analyses on artificial turf, physical activity and public health, and play access equity. Organized by topic for easy reference.

Letter Templates

Sample Advocacy Letters

Customizable letter templates for:

  • City councils and planning commissions
  • School district boards of education
  • State legislators and agency officials
  • Letters to the editor and op-ed frameworks
Infographic

The Play Equity Gap: By the Numbers

A visual summary of the data behind the disparity — designed for social sharing, presentations, and community meetings.

Infographic

Turf vs. Grass: A Full-System Comparison

Side-by-side comparison of natural grass and modern synthetic turf across water use, maintenance cost, play hours, chemical exposure, and climate resilience.

Use These resources

These materials are free to use, share, and adapt for advocacy purposes. If you use them in a public setting, at a policy hearing, or in published writing, we’d love to hear about it.

Get on our advocacy mailing list for updates as new resources are added:

Need More Support?

If your community is facing an imminent turf policy decision and you need additional resources, expert testimony, or direct support from the Playing for Keeps team, reach out. Dr. Nartey has testified before city councils, school boards, and planning commissions across California and nationally, and we are available to support communities in need.

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