Forum To Address Questions And Concerns About Artificial Turf

By Kendra Bobowick

Answers regarding plans to refinish Tilson Field at Treadwell Park — including the use of artificial turf — by the Parks and Recreation Department will be offered during an open forum and question-and-answer period with Parks & Rec members scheduled for Tuesday, October 14, at 7:30 pm. The program will be at Town Hall South. Handout information also will be provided.

“People can expect to hear what literature we’re looking at,” said Parks and Recreation Commission Chair Edward Marks. “We thought it best after talking with officials to do what we can to answer questions.” After reviewing sources of information about turf fields, he said, “We are ready to move forward.”

The department has decided to hold a forum because headlines during the past year have questioned whether or not artificial fields pose health risks. For those who hope to learn more, Mr Marks said, “We’ll share what we’ve got.”

The forum is not a voting venue.

“We want people to be assured, yes, we did our homework and yes, we looked into it,” said Assistant Director of Parks Carl Samuelson. Like many sports parents and athletes, the Parks & Rec commission members have been reading the local and national news. A swell of recent attention toward materials comprising artificial turf including concerns over whether the materials are hazardous, and whether the turf or rubber components pose health risks. The state’s attorney general, for one, is among those seeking clarification.

“We must address the unknowns and do the research necessary to protect our children’s health,” Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said in May through a press release. He called upon the US Environmental Protection Agency to investigate potential threats, to which the EPA agreed. He awaits what he hopes will be an “authoritative study,” the release continued.

Several months later Mr Blumenthal criticized the Consumer Protection Safety Commission, admonishing it to “remove and revise” a report that may mislead readers to believe that artificial turf has been proven safe, according to an August press release. As recreation members, health district representatives, and even spokesperson David Deegan with the US EPA-New England division, agree, nothing is conclusive yet.

Per the attorney general’s earlier request, “there is a scoping survey underway,” Mr Deegan explained. “We look at a number of different scenarios, gather data on elevated exposure to lead or other materials…” He has no estimated date about when the EPA will have its results, however. The “take home” message is: “We’re gathering information to form a decision.” He also confirms that as yet there is “nothing conclusive” indicating health risks, or not. He also is aware of different studies in different states, and the number of people who are “looking to get questions answered.”

He said, “We don’t have the answers yet to answer conclusively in either direction.”

The past months’ volley of opinions has drawn Health District Director Donna Culbert’s attention, but she also awaits definitive conclusions about potential health risks. “We have looked into it,” she said. In touch with the recreation department and Mr Samuelson, Ms Culbert has also reviewed information from sources including the New York City Department of Health and Hygiene 2008 report prepared by TRC of Windsor. The report focused on reviewing the potential health and safety risks from synthetic turf fields containing crumb rubber infill. Visit NYC.gov and search the Department of Health and Hygiene.

This summer saw the appropriation of more than $700,000 in capital funds for a second artificial turf field in Newtown in addition to the Treadwell field. No bids will be awarded until after the forum.