Newton’s plans for an new artificial turf field at Albemarle and to replace artificial turf fields at the high schools are incompatible with its “green” reputation.
Surprisingly, in spite of expert testimony and scientific evidence that artificial turf causes health and environmental harm, Newton is proposing to spend $6,872,000 (*) from Free Cash and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) for artificial turf projects.
In February, a series of scientists, experts, and public policy advocates urged City Councilors to reject the Parks Department’s plans for artificial turf, to uphold standards for public and environmental health and prudent financial responsibility. Referencing the Silent Spring Institute and the UMass Lowell’s Toxics Use Reduction Institute, they advised that artificial turf is a poor choice for health and safety and that towns can have high performance organic grass fields.
The experts supported the citizen’s petition calling for an independent, third-party analysis of the health, safety, environmental, and fiscal risks of artificial turf compared to professionally managed grass.
One of the scientists was Kyla Bennett, Ph.D, JD. Bennett worked at U.S. EPA Region 1 for 10 years as a wetland permit reviewer and as the Region’s Wetlands Enforcement Coordinator. She is now Director of Science Policy at the New England Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility’s (PEER). Bennett’s testimony (video) explains the health and safety hazards as well as the true costs and future liabilities from anticipated regulations and as state and federal standards become more stringent.
The growing list of known toxic hazards in artificial turf include microplastics, heavy metals, and PFAS that are unsafe at any level. As many Massachusetts towns are learning about the impact and cost of PFAS contamination in public water supplies and private wells, the Massachusetts legislature is considering several bills, such as the Toxics Free Kids Act (H.318/S.175), that would prohibit products that contain PFAS including artificial turf on school properties, publicly owned properties, or intended for use by children under the age of 18.
In 2010, the City of Newton installed artificial turf fields at Newton South High School, ignoring warnings about high rates of student injuries, heat related illness, and toxic exposures, especially to the twelve carcinogens in the crumb rubber infill. As with cigarettes, pesticides, plastic and fossil fuels, the corporate deception and lobbying against science-based safety regulations, continues to threaten public health and public budgets. Today, in spite of claims that Newton’s budget is designed to protect our treasured green spaces, public safety, and financial strength, Newton’s plans to install artificial turf puts kids and the city at risk by ignoring the warnings again.
(*) The $6,872,000 for artificial turf projects consists of:
- $3,572,000 ( = $3,240,000 Free Cash + $332,000 from ARPA) for two replacement fields and track at Newton South High School
- $2,200,000 from ARPA for the proposed artificial turf field at Albemarle
- $1,100,000 from Free Cash for Newton North High School replacement and track (CIP)
Ellie Goldberg is affiliated with Mothers Out Front Newton, Green Newton, 350Mass Newton Node, and A Future WithOut Gas (AFWOG).
