City of Menifee staff presented an overview of the parks division turf management program on Dec. 4, explaining how staff will maintain health and playability across roughly 122 acres of parkland and an estimated 2.5 million square feet of turf in city parks.

Presentation highlights included a shift in the city’s new-park standard from tall fescue to a hybrid Bermuda grass designed to tolerate heavy athletic use and reduce irrigation needs; routine practices such as aeration, top-dressing with bio-retention soil, fertilizer management (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) and mowing standards; and use of a CalSense web-based irrigation monitoring system. Staff said integrated pest management and organic herbicide options are primary tactics, with mechanical hand removal used first.

To preserve field quality, staff outlined sports-field usage and maintenance plans: the city logged approximately 4,000 field reservations in 2024 across four baseball diamonds and eight multipurpose fields and will implement an eight-week cycle in which each multipurpose field is closed for one week to allow recovery. Extended closures of four to six weeks may occur for resodding or heavier repairs. Staff said these shorter planned closures should reduce the need for longer shut-downs while improving mid- and long-term field condition.

Staff also discussed asset management: a recent park asset inventory and integration with a GIS system will let staff track benches, restrooms, irrigation components and condition grades; a public-facing QR code on new park signage will link residents to field conditions, closures and reservation information.

Commissioners asked whether the city uses recycled irrigation water; staff said most new parks are configured for recycled water and cited a recent retrofit at La Ladera. Commissioners also asked about pesticides and herbicide use; staff said mechanical removal is the first step, organic herbicides are used when needed and the parks team has invested in nonchemical equipment to address certain pests.

Staff emphasized that the turf program will feed capital improvement planning and budgeting by identifying irrigation upgrades, resodding needs and other asset replacements.

The commission did not take formal action on the turf program; the presentation was received and staff answered questions about timelines, costs and communication to leagues and the public.