HONOLULU — A pilot project to test the use of artificial turf on road median strips on Oahu has had mixed results, officials said.
The artificial turf has worked well in some of Oahu’s nine city council districts, while others have experienced problems, The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Wednesday.
Honolulu launched the $1 million pilot project to install artificial turf in nine medians, roundabouts and other traffic spaces in February 2016, officials said.
Some of the 3-year-old turf has been damaged, while the turf on one median has become encircled with weeds due to errors made during installation. But the artificial grass on another median looks so realistic that a resident used a riding mower to cut it, an official said.
Honolulu Councilwoman Kymberly Pine hopes the project will lead to reduced water use and landscaping maintenance, but said the cost benefits have not yet been determined.
“We have to look at the future of our water use and the sustainability of our island as our population grows,” Pine said. “Whether this works or not, I don’t know, but we have to at least try.”
The Honolulu Department of Facility Maintenance oversaw installation of the artificial turf across Oahu and is responsible for maintenance of city-owned grass and other landscaping.
The turf project could save taxpayers money by reducing the time and labor to maintain the areas, department Deputy Director Eduardo Manglallan said.
“It’s a win-win for the government and especially taxpayers and residents impacted by weekly weed whacking — making noise and all the debris,” he said.
The city made some initial mistakes, such as leaving seeds below the turf and enabling weeds to grow in areas that should no longer require maintenance. But a warranty on the turf allowed for seed removal, an experience Manglallan called “lessons learned.”
“There should be no wild grass growing,” Manglallan said. “It’s the goal not to touch them at all. Once you install it, you’ll never water it and you’ll never mow it again.”
