At Sportpark Nieuw Welgelegen, Sportpark De Vryheit, and Sportpark Rijnvliet, artificial grass fields have recently been laid that do much more than just allow a ball to roll. Underneath the fields is an innovative system that collects, stores, and uses rainwater to keep the field cool during dry periods. The system can hold up to one million liters of water.

At the same time, the municipality is choosing LimeGreen® ONE-DNA™ artificial grass for the sports parks Nieuw Welgelegen and De Vryheit, which consists of only one type of plastic. This makes it fully recyclable without loss of quality, unlike traditional artificial grass that often consists of multiple materials. This makes it much more sustainable and better suited to the citys circular ambitions.

Smart layer under the field prevents heat and water nuisance

The rainwater storage system consists of a layer of stones, foil, and sponge-like foam. When it rains heavily, this buffer collects the water. In drier times, the water is released again, preventing the field from overheating and keeping the immediate environment cool. The stored water can also be discharged to ditches or saved for later use if necessary.

Councillor for Sports Eva Oosters is enthusiastic about the new fields. “With these artificial grass football fields, we combine sustainability with sports. They are more playable and contribute to the environment thanks to the rainwater storage system and recyclable artificial grass. The rainwater is retained, and the fields heat up less in the summer. This way, we can let more people play sports in Utrecht without compromising the living environment or the climate.”

The construction is also circular

Not only the use of the fields is sustainable, but attention has also been paid to circularity in the construction. The soil excavated for the rainwater storage system has been reused on-site. This saves transport, reduces CO₂ emissions, and lowers costs. Additionally, the foam between the artificial grass and the water buffer is made from recycled materials, such as old mattresses.

With this approach, Utrecht demonstrates how sports facilities can contribute to broader climate goals. The construction of these artificial grass fields aligns with the citys ambition to be fully circular by 2050.