The City of Newton broke ground February 13 on a multi-use synthetic turf field at Albemarle Field — part of a $9.5 million park renovation aimed at improving recreational facilities while addressing longstanding concerns about flooding.
Synthetic turf improves field usability during and after bad weather but has also raised health and environmental concerns, leading the City to balance community well-being and athletic needs.
Mayor Ruthanne Fuller acknowledged the complexity of the decision to install a synthetic turf field, but emphasized its necessity. “It’s a hard decision to tear up grass and put down synthetic turf fields,” said Fuller. “But I think we absolutely need it to support our Newton North athletes and this side of the City.”
Mike Jackson, Newton North High School’s athletics director, agreed, highlighting the project’s role in expanding opportunities for local sports programs. “Sports is such a connector,” Jackson said. “So, for us to be able to expand our ability to have so many student-athletes, of all ages, be active for their mental and physical health, is important.”
With 36 sports and over 600 athletes per season, the expansion of playing fields will significantly ease scheduling challenges for high school and middle school teams, Jackson said.
The project will serve not only nearby schools but also city residents. Luis Perez Demorizi, Newton’s director of Parks & Open Spaces, underscored the significance of the renovations. “This sports complex is hugely important to the city,” said Demorizi. “It generally serves nearby schools like Newton North High School, but sports and other residents come from all corners of Newton.”
The Albemarle Field project also includes a renovated Burke Baseball Field, six new pickleball courts, a basketball court, a renovated softball field, multi-use trails and ADA-compliant pathways, sports lighting, and an irrigation system to mitigate stormwater runoff.
Concerns about synthetic turf
The decision to install synthetic turf has raised concerns among residents due to the presence of PFAS, often referred to as “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down easily. PFAS are per- and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals linked to water contamination and potential health risks, including cancer and immune system disorders.
Many have expressed concerns about the potential health risks for children playing on the fields, water contamination from runoff into the Cheesecake Brook, and the long-term environmental impact of artificial turf.
City officials acknowledged concerns about PFAS in synthetic turf and said the City has taken steps to address them. “We went through a rigorous process to select the safest possible material — one that supports sports while also addressing residents’ concerns,” said Demorizi. The City tested the turf using EPA-approved methods to ensure safety and worked closely with the Conservation Commission to secure necessary permits.
To minimize environmental impact, the project includes measures to prevent infill migration, such as perimeter drainage structures and welcome mats at entry points where players can shake off turf pellets. “Our goal was to build this field in the most responsible way possible for this location,” Demorizi added.
“As we go through this project we hear from so many voices, we have many channels for people to reach out, and it does make the project better at the end,” said Nicole Banks, Newton’s parks commissioner. “We are happy to have had those important structures in place to hear from everyone.”
Stormwater mitigation
Under the new field, an underground infiltration system will reduce flooding and stormwater pollution for seven acres. The project includes restoring the banks, replacing mowed grass with natural plantings, and capturing runoff water to redirect it into the ground instead of letting it go straight into the brook untreated.
Emily Norton, executive director of the Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA), explained the historical impact of development on Cheesecake Brook, which runs through Albemarle Park. “This whole area was once a 200-plus-acre wetland that acted as a sponge during rainstorms,” she said. “Over time, in order to allow more development, the stream was straightened and channelized, leading to increased flooding.”
The CRWA and the City together have accessed over $1.2 million in state funding to mitigate flooding. Norton pointed to past flooding incidents — including a 2021 storm that caused a Mazda SUV to be swept away in the brook, damaging a footbridge — as a reminder of the importance for flood mitigation efforts in Newton.
“This project marks a new chapter in the history of our brook and also how the City deals with water,” Norton said. “We now know that we can have modern lives, but we are better off when we work with nature rather than try to control it.”
The synthetic turf field and its lighting are expected to be completed by September, with a priority on having the field ready for Newton North’s fall sports season. Additional project components, including the stormwater system, are set to be finished by June 30.
Alexyss Lopez is a senior majoring in Journalism at Boston University and working with Fig City News via her department’s new initiative within the BU Newsroom program.
