By Shawnee Baldwin Jan 6, 2024
I have a lot of questions about the wisdom of installing Artificial Turf. Having done some research, it does not seem like a good or sustainable idea. But how do I appeal to you as a taxpayer or a Glastonbury resident or a parent of the kids who play on these surfaces or a coach who oversees youth development to give this proposal a second look? What argument will get your attention: Financial? Environmental? Health? Nothing?
Bruce Bowman laid out some alarming facts in an article in the Green on the Corner section of the Glastonbury Citizen dated January 5, 2023 as did Jen Siskind Jan 12,2023. And a letter to the editor by Jimmy Buckley dated March 16, 2023 focused on fiscal as well as environmental drawbacks. Members of the TALK Environment Committee compiled a report that was given to the Town Council and the Board of Education. Considering the amount of issues that come before both of these groups I wonder have many got the chance to actually read it if we are still considering the installation of not one but two artificial fields at the cost of $1.5 MILLION each.
This product needs replacing every 8-10 years at an additional cost of @$800,000.00. It is supposed to be cleaned after every use and having talked to some high school kids, that’s not happening. There was legislation introduced last year to ban artificial turf across the state of Connecticut. It did not pass. But a bill SB100 signed by the governor 6/27/23 provided funds to towns to test or remediate the contaminated PFAS. (so why install more?) Professional athletes have indicated that they don’t like it and suffer more injuries as a result of the surface. $25,000.00 was allocated by the Town Council to study the issue, but it should not be a study conducted by the very entity that is trying to sell us the product.
I recently heard someone say that this industry is “highly regulated.” WHY? Because it is made from tires that when ignited in a landfill burn out of control for days? Because when it is removed you have to take two feet of soil underneath the whole structure because it is so contaminated? Because the microplastics, PFAS “forever chemicals” – plastics that never go away, are getting on kids clothing and into kid’s lungs and skin and making them sick? Because it leaches chemicals into the ground water that travels to nearby neighbor’s yards? Because it retains so much heat, with heat recorded at 120 degrees, that players get burned and suffer heat exhaustion? Because it is not recyclable and has to be dumped in a landfill?
Just say “NO” or at least “Lets investigate further.” Because, while we try to recycle and buy less plastic, we are putting 40,000 POUNDS of plastic, a fossil fuel product, into the ground so that a small group of athletes can get more playing time in a town that already has a favorable high ranking for sports’ excellence. Because this purchase goes against our sustainable purchasing policy. Because we lose the natural cleaning process that takes place on green grass surfaces that can’t possibly cost as much money to mow and maintain. Because we are discounting the voices of some 4th graders I know who don’t like the surface but love the game, and are afraid to speak out, yet have suffered an injury on that very surface.
I applaud the merits of organized sports, but not at the expense of our young people or my tax dollars. Fix broken windows. Give teachers basic supplies so they don’t have to dig in their own pockets. Invest in rising mental health resources, especially around climate anxiety. Get those electric buses so kids don’t have to breathe in diesel fumes. Use the BOE 1% fund to fund more educational needs. But say NO to this potential toxic product whether you have kids playing on it or not.
The TALK Truth in Action with Love and Kindness)Environment group seeks to promote conversations about the environment and climate change in our community. If you have a related topic which you are passionate about, please send your ideas and suggestions for future articles to: prez@talk-action.org. All articles are archived on the Talk website http://talk-action.org