At the 3/8/22 Middletown Board of Education meeting, Members are considering replacing its High School synthetic turf field with another. I believe this is a mistake. There is compelling information regarding health concerns, cost, and environmental impacts that the Board should seriously consider.
In 2015 the city of Middletown decided, for all these reasons, not to move forward with any synthetic turf fields as part of the 21st Century Parks investment; instead, new and existing fields were to be non-toxic real grass, maintained without the use of chemicals or pesticides. Our elementary schools were (and are) already being maintained this way because of a state statute.
When this issue came up for a vote at the Common Council in 2015, there was a lot of testimony to show the problems with artificial turf and reasons why most soccer players and many athletes now support the use of grass over synthetic turf. There was also a petition from hundreds of residents, who, in the course of 2 days, signed a petition calling for the ban on new synthetic turf fields and the use of non-toxic grass fields instead! Once people looked at the facts and understood this issue, it made sense. It still does.
Below are several links to recent articles that I hope will be considered.
Sports are an important part of our children’s lives. Please protect our kids and provide them with a healthy alternative to synthetic fields. Properly drained and well-maintained grass fields are infinitely superior to synthetic fields no matter what claims the manufacturers make!!
https://www.safehealthyplayingfields.org/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0OIwTQtzt0
https://www.jackwallington.com/17-reasons-to-avoid-fake-lawns-how-bad-is-artificial-grass-for-the-environment/
To register to watch or participate in the 6:30pm March 7th BOE meeting go to this link:
UPDATE: LINK WAS CHANGED FOR THE MEETING - HERE IS THE CORRECT LINK:
Click on the image below to see a factsheet put together locally on this issue.
This meeting is a hybrid and can be attended in person at the Council Chambers this evening at 6:30 (3/8) or use the link in the article to sign up and receive the meeting link.
ReplyDeleteRebecca MacLachlan