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Time to Rethink “Crumb Rubber” Turf at Stevens Field

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To the members of the Ridgewood Board of Education,

I am writing to implore you to change the decision you made last night, authorizing the installation of crumb rubber on Stevens Field.
I am completely supportive of the remediation of this heavily used field. I do not object to using artificial materials for this field (although in a perfect world I would prefer grass). But I am asking you to please use a product that is safer for the health of the children and the environment.

The use of crumb rubber is wrong on every level. Please, I implore you for the safety of our children, please PLEASE remediate the field but use a safer product. It is not too late. Yes, you approved the remediation last night, but can’t you change the vendor or the product? Of course you can, you are in charge! Make an amendment to the resolution you passed. This is simple to accomplish.
Dr. Fishbein indicated that waiting two weeks would not be possible “if we want to get the field done.” Come on, a two-week delay in order to do the right thing for the health of our children and the impact on our environment would be time well spent.

Dr. Fishbein indicated that “research on safety is mixed and not recent.” We all know there is a boatload of recent scientific studies that are unequivocal on this matter – Linda MacNamara has kept us (and Dr. Fishbein) well stocked with these important documents. The evidence is clear. And even if there is an occasional study that questions the hazards of crumb rubber, it behooves you to act on the side of caution.
Dr. Fishbein defended the crumb rubber by stating that it “has been used for decades.” This defense is useless. Honey was given to fussy infants for decades until we learned about Infant Botulism. Agent Orange was used as a defoliant until we learned how horribly dangerous it was. Asbestos was used in homes until we learned about mesothelioma. Yes, crumb rubber has been used for decades. But it should not be used ever again.

Dr. Fishbein indicated that his “own children played on the field” and he does not “share these concerns.” While I am very grateful that his children are ok, this is not a useful argument to defend the use of a product that we now know to be dangerous.

I am asking you to please do the right thing. A simple motion, seconded, and a vote, and you can switch to a better product to remediate this field. I know this was thrown at you last night with a last-minute agenda change, confusion about the actual cost, and resistance from Dr. Fishbein to grant a two-week extension. I understand why this resolution passed because you want the field to be remediated. But I am hoping you will amend it right away in order to do the right thing, the safe thing, the only moral and ethical choice for our children and our environment.

Thank you,
Anne Loving

7 thoughts on “Time to Rethink “Crumb Rubber” Turf at Stevens Field

  1. A little bit about turf replacement. These companies replace many fields each summer. While two weeks doesn’t seem like a lot, it is. Two weeks in ordering is the difference between finishing on August 1 and September 1 or later. As is, we are behind where we should be.

    Second, there are thousands of crumb rubber fields in this country. Professional sports teams play on crumb rubber. Can you point to any substantiated evidence that it’s dangerous? I’ve seen the same NBC news article from a few years ago. The NFL has done so much for safety when it comes to concussions, for example, yet their players have no problem playing on crumb rubber.

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  2. What is the price tag to replace this field. And how old is this field.

  3. It’s still better than playing on rock hard “grass” that the field would turn into after 2 weeks of football practice in September.

    The field would still get flooded and be harder to clean of river contaminants than a turf field.

    The usage percentage of the field increases substantially by being turf and there is still a significant upkeep/maintenance cost for a natural surface.

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  4. Natural Grass is the best.
    Best to play on.
    Best for your health.

    If RW took half the money it spent on artificial turf to properly prepare and maintain a grass field, we would have none of these problems and have money left over (to invariably waste on some other idiotic initative).

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  5. Do we really need to spend $1 million again.

  6. Dan Creed weighing in, I see

  7. $1 million every ten years is $100,000 annually (not adjusting for inflation or interest rate costs). That wouldn’t maintain a natural grass field?

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