Newport Seashore bans artificial herbicides on 17 athletic fields

Newport Seashore is ditching artificial herbicides on its 17 athletic fields as alarm grows over a uncommon childhood most cancers cluster in a close-by group.

The transfer comes as households grapple with no less than six circumstances of Ewing sarcoma amongst kids and teenagers since 2013 in Ladera Ranch, a master-planned group in south Orange County.

Whereas not one of the kids with most cancers are from Newport Seashore, the Metropolis Council accepted the Athletic Discipline Sod Administration Program Tuesday, with officers saying the transfer Wednesday.

Orange County Assemblywoman Diane Dixon advised the California Put up she “applauded” Newport Seashore Metropolis Council for taking the “vital step to remove pesticide use on athletic fields.”

The Republican additionally praised town for pairing the pesticide crackdown with a brand new turf-replacement technique, calling it “a major monetary dedication to sustaining secure, high-quality outside areas” whereas placing the “well being of our kids, households, and atmosphere” first.

As an alternative of artificial herbicides, town will depend on natural remedies, mechanical weed removing and common turf alternative.

The fields will likely be stripped, leveled and coated with new sod each three to 5 years, relying on their situation and use.

Newport Seashore maintains about 1.9 million sq. toes of athletic-field turf.

Transitioning the sports activities fields to natural administration is estimated to extend annual prices by $51,000 to $102,000, representing a 5% to 10% finances improve.

Metropolis officers mentioned the common returfing will sort out weeds and deterioration brought on by heavy use whereas conserving fields secure and playable.

The coverage grew out of a pilot program launched at Buffalo Hills Park in December 2025, the place artificial herbicides had been changed with natural remedies and mechanical weed management.

Newport Seashore’s resolution is a part of a wider Orange County shift away from chemical weed management.

In Might, Orange County ordered a countywide pause on herbicide spraying throughout Orange County Flood Management District channels.

Ladera Ranch’s upkeep company additionally ordered a 60-day pause on chemical weed spraying in its frequent areas in July, whereas the Capistrano Unified Faculty District additionally paused herbicide use at campuses in San Juan Capistrano, Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, San Clemente and Dana Level.

California additionally started phasing out paraquat this month after producers of pesticide merchandise containing the highly effective weedkiller voluntarily canceled their registrations within the state.

Different communities have already made natural landscaping a centerpiece of their upkeep insurance policies.

The Aliso Viejo Group Affiliation has switched to a 100% natural land-management mannequin for main neighborhood hubs equivalent to Canyon View Park.

San Juan Capistrano and Laguna Hills have shifted to natural turf-management protocols on public sports activities fields.

Irvine has lengthy maintained a everlasting ban on artificial pesticides and fertilizers on all public metropolis properties, whereas Costa Mesa operates below a everlasting organic-first coverage that closely restricts poisonous chemical compounds in public parks.

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