Laura Bentz: In the words of Maya Angelou, when we know better, we should do better

Dear School Committee Members:

First, my thanks for your service, and recognition that sometimes the School Committee work of due diligence on a proposed project can be huge! Thank you as well for holding the public forum on the possible installation of an artificial turf field at our local high school, which I was unable to attend.

I am writing to express my concerns about the possible installation of an artificial turf field, at MGRHS. I urge you to consider, truly, ALL the aspects and perhaps "hidden" costs also involved with an artificial turf field, including issues related to carbon sequestration (something an artificial field will NOT do), solid waste, and human and other animals' health concerns, too! I urge you to further investigate costs associated with a well-managed organically cared for real grass field, as well.

Our community deserves answers to all our questions, before you move forward on this. Please!

I am a child of the 60s and 70s, and I remember when artificial turf first became widely used, and was hailed as a miracle product, for sports fields! And... I also remember the unexpected consequences, like how a downpour of rain would leave the field flooded, and how badly scraped and burned players skin would get, from nasty falls and skids on artificial turf. It didn't always live up to it's promise.

Recently, I have learned that while artificial turf is promoted as being "low maintenance" compared to mowing grass lawns, it DOES in fact require maintenance, including regular

application of disinfectants, as well as "watering" to keep the heat down on sunny days! I understand disinfectants are needed to kill bacteria and fungi which can grow on the artificial surface, and which present further threats to players using the artificial turf fields! Has anyone fully investigated the possible harm these bacteria- and fungicides might do to our growing children, playing on these artificial fields?

Solid waste is also of concern, related to artificial turf. I understand that artificial turf has a much shorter expected life than one might think, and, removing it and properly "disposing" of artificial turf is akin to dealing with other kinds of toxic waste. Solid waste is carted "away" but it still goes somewhere. A grass lawn won't create solid waste.

While a large part of me understands the attraction of a "shiny new product" that isn't even costing taxpayers much at all, thanks to a gift from Williams College, I must urge you to consider ALL the factors and aspects of what installing an artificial turf field means, and the many non-obvious costs associated with a manufactured field.

In an era of climate change, a well-managed grass field would also serve as a carbon sink -- humus in soil captures large amounts of carbon; organic management of a field can greatly

increase humus in soil -- and could also be a demonstration site for well managed "real" grass fields. We in Williamstown could be leaders by promoting organic lawn and field care methods! Isn't this better than mere followers of sales people not willing to be honest about what taking care of an artificial field will look like, and cost, after it is installed?

I understand that at the forum, when the landscape architect promoting the artificial turf was questioned, he had not even begun to calculate long term care costs, for the artificial field.

Please, let us not be blinded by hype!

PLEASE I urge you, in the strongest possible terms, to investigate installing a well-managed, organic if possible, grass field, rather than adding to solid waste and toxic waste issues, which the artificial turf field will eventually become.

In the words of Maya Angelou, when we know better, we should do better. We at the very least should know to look FULLY into all the many non-obvious costs associated with artificial turf, before spending our money this way.

I would very much appreciate acknowledgement that this letter has been received! Thank you.

Sincerely yours,

Laura Bentz

Williamstown, MA

MGRSD taxpayer, and mother of a class of 2013 graduate of MGRHS