A wide range of people enjoy the benefits of synthetic grass every day. From professional athletes to school children, artificial turf helps provide a safe, level surface for a wide variety of people. Chances are you’ve played on artificial turf before; Are you curious to know how it was invented? If so, read on.

AstroTurf: The Beginning;

In the 1960s, a company called Chemstrand was looking for new types of artificial playing surfaces for sports activities. During the course of the research and development process, the company sought to create a kind of “resistant carpet”. While exploring this possibility, they were contacted by the Ford Foundation, eager to find a solution for urban sports surfaces. Between 1962 and 1966, Chemstrand worked feverishly on this application.

A solution for urban athletes;

Living in the city brings many great benefits, but one drawback is that there are few, if any, green areas where people can play and enjoy sports. This is especially concerning for conscientious parents who want their children to run, play and get the right amount of exercise. Spurred by this need, the Ford Foundation prompted Chemstrand to begin its research to create a resilient urban sports surface. A multitude of different types of surfaces were created during the 5+ years that Chemstrand worked on the idea, and it was one of those varieties that became the artificial grass we know today.

Artificial grass takes off –

In 1964, the first large-scale installation of synthetic turf took place at the Moses Brown School in Rhode Island, United States. Unsurprisingly, it was installed due to the lack of green space in this urban region and was used to help school children have the space to run when they needed it. Additionally, the material was used because it minimized slippage and provided a safer surface than concrete and other alternatives. Before long, the popularity of synthetic grass took off.

AstroTurf is born –

The biggest event in synthetic turf history occurred in the year 1966. That’s when the Houston Astrodome, home to baseball’s Houston Astros and football’s Houston Oilers, installed a Chemgrass surface for the first time. Shortly thereafter, several other major stadiums began using the material, which was renamed “AstroTurf” and patented in the United States in 1967. In the years since, countless sports facilities, schools, and other venues have used this remarkable material to help provide a safe and uniform playing surface for adults and children alike. There is no doubt that synthetic grass is here to stay.