by Erf Porter

Created on: April 10, 2009   Last Updated: April 30, 2009

COMMENTARY THE CASE FOR SYNTHETIC TURF

At the February 26, 2009 Greenwich Board of Selectmen (BOS) meeting, the newly formed Environmental Action Task Force (aka Task Force), presented their views and a report on artificial turf. They closed their presentation with a request that the BOS pass their proposed Artificial Turf Fields Resolution. I attended that BOS meeting and have been actively engaged in the debate since. I have taken the initiative to review most, but not all of the reference materials and have recently had numerous discussions with those fully engaged in the industry including a primary manufacturer and the world's largest buyer of synthetic turf fields (NYC Parks Department). While I have never personally played a competitive sport on "turf," all of our five (5) children have and all but the youngest of our twelve (12) grandchildren have. My observations from my research and, hopefully, the wisdom I gained from 40+ years of engagements in the chemical processing industries will be reflected in this commentary. I conclude that the professionals that oversaw the planning, design, supplier choice, funding, and installation at Greenwich High School have done our community proud. The Forever Green fields are based on "crumb rubber" infill design. There are differing views worldwide about "crumb rubber" infills, in 2003 when Cardinal Stadium was completed it was a "state of the art" design. The fields subsequently installed @ GHS since are also "state of the art." These fields are the envy of a very broad spectrum of professionals whose responsibilities include providing physical education and competitive team sports opportunities for kids to play on fields that are safe. Those that were responsible should be congratulated not criticized, applauded rather than scorned. In my view, an intelligent properly informed Greenwich public will see it the same way.

The mandate of the aforementioned Task Force, originally proposed at the January 24, 2008 BOS meeting by Selectman Lin Lavery, was relatively open. Since the Task Force was formed, they have catalyzed several good things. They have highlighted the importance of Green in Greenwich; advocated on behalf of more energy efficient Town buildings and the use of more efficient vehicles in the Town fleet, and generally increased the awareness about the importance of conserving energy. They also plan to do more.

But, they also pressed the Town to adopt a resolution to move toward totally natural field maintenance

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