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Turf
Fields Proposition will be voted on May 15
Why
do we need synthetic turf fields?
The school district’s fields are
the primary source of fields for many community recreation groups,
including AYSO (youth soccer), Wolfpack (youth football) and TNT (youth
baseball and softball). Many towns or villages provide athletic fields
and facilities. Other then baseball/softball fields, our community
provides no full size athletic fields. Hackley does not allow its
fields to be used by the community. So, the school district has been
asked to provide fields for AYSO and Wolfpack, and TNT. These groups use
the school’s fields almost everyday of the week spring and fall. These
programs serve ALL children in the community, not just public school
students. These programs are feeder/trainer programs for children that
go to private schools. As a result of so much use, our fields are in
poor shape and safety has become a concern.
In
addition to all the community groups that use the district’s fields,
more and more district students are participating in interscholastic
athletics. Girls soccer has moved to the fall, making it harder to find
fields simultaneously for modified, JV and varsity girls and boys soccer
teams along with field hockey and football. In the spring, the district
now offers girls lacrosse in addition to boys lacrosse, baseball and
softball. Many of these sports have modified, JV and varsity teams
competing to find space to practice and play. With all the combined
community and school use, natural grass struggles to grow.
The engineers hired to do a feasibility study about whether synthetic
turf fields were an appropriate choice for our district said our fields
are used about three times more than the maximum recommended to allow
natural grass to grow.
Learn more about the Turf Field at
www.aysotarrytown.com
When will we start paying for these field
improvements?
If voters approve the proposition
to move forward, the fields won't be built until summer 2008.
The money would be borrowed about a year
from now. The first interest payment would be a year later, and the
first principal and interest payment won't be due until the 2010-11
budget.
What
about other funding?
Once the proposition is approved,
final drawings will be made. These drawings will be submitted with
grant applications to reduce final costs. The district can’t
effectively apply for grants until the overall project is approved.
Parents have already raised thousands of dollars to support these
fields.
What are other districts doing?
Around 30 districts in the area already have synthetic turf fields.
Our teams have fewer home games or playoffs
because of our inadequate field conditions and availability.
Is synthetic turf safe?
The district is interested in
changing to synthetic turf to improve safety conditions. Synthetic turf
is level and cushioned. Our fields are riddled with holes and have
little cushioning since grass doesn’t grow in many spots. Here are
links to studies examining synthetic turf safety. Synthetic turf is
growing in popularity in the United States, and the new generation of
turf is the result of tremendous improvements in engineering since the
original Astroturf. Also, natural grass fields are usually full of
chemicals and fertilizers, which pose their own health hazards.
What are alternatives?
Significantly increase
maintenance costs, which would be reflected in future school budgets.
AND
Reduce usage on fields, limiting access by
both school and community groups.
Click any of the items below for additional
information related to the Turf Fields Proposition
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