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Health & Fitness

Rabbi Mark's Blog: Save Reynolds Field (X)

Good people can disagree, and that’s what’s happening in Hastings. But it’s not a real disagreement, because Geo-Turf has not been giving us the real story.

Durability/Playability

We keep hearing how the plastic field will be more "durable" and "playable." Not really. And not only because plastic blades will wash off (Geo-Turf admitted as much to a school in Piedmont, CA). But also because the field will need to be closed for much of the year due to high heat.

Find out what's happening in Rivertownswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Geo-Turf has been shown to heat to 107 degrees on a day when the air temperature is only 71. We get 71 degree days now from April well into October. And if forecasts are right - that in about ten years this area will have the climate of Alabama -  we'll have even fewer days when the field is playable. 

And with severe storms we face the problem of flooding. An artificial turf field in Pennsylvania was wrecked with only two inches of water (see my other posts). And do we know what to expect by way of increase in the volume of water runoff? If so, by what percent will it increase? Won't this increase the risk of flash flooding for Hastings residents who live below the 5 corners?

Find out what's happening in Rivertownswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Other Issues

Geo-Turf is expensive, hurtful to the environment (not only will it increase our carbon footprint, but the plastic blades will shed into and contaminate our storm drainage system), and its heat is dangerous to our athletes (shown to spike 23 degrees in a matter of hours; and to hit 107 degrees when air temperature is only 71).

The "Green" Energy Council which gave Geo-Turf its "Seal of Approval" is bogus - an industrial trade organization . selling exclusive endorsements for $100,000 a pop. Geo-Turf is not, as claimed, "eco-friendly." It's made from polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyurethane, and has never been recycled (indeed polyurethane cannot be recycled.) 

For more information I recommend you to www.SaveReynoldsField.org

 

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