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 straight with us. A lot of information we would need in order to make an informed decision has been skewed, misrepresented, and/or withheld. If the information had been presented fully and accurately by the company I don’t think we’d be having any disagreement at all. I really don’t.
There’s a way forward for all of us. The vote needn’t split us in two. But I do believe that we have to begin by acknowledging that the issue of Reynolds Field is not just a “team” issue, or a “school” issue, or even a “village” issue. What's playing out is here locally is a global issue, and the stakes could not be higher.
“We can either make the solution to the climate crisis the central organizing principle of global civilization or the hostile conditions we are creating will destroy us.” - Al Gore
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“There is a strong community sentiment and political will in Hastings to be more sustainable and to reduce the Village's carbon footprint. A major publicly announced goal of Board of Trustees for 2009-2010 is to be a model sustainable community… The village government, as the representative of the entire community, has a responsibility to fulfill the goals of sustainability, not only for ourselves, but also for those elsewhere whose well-being our practices affect, and for our children and those who will reside in this place after us…” - Hastings-on-Hudson Sustainability Action Plan
ISSUE NUMBER TWO: HEAT
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What’s the truth about Geo-Turf and heat? According to the pro Geo-Turf website, Geo-Turf is not like Astro-Turf where “heat was an issue." They even posted a study on-line where “InfillPro Geo stays a full 5 degrees below air temperature.” This is utterly misleading.
Folks, the on-line study showing Geo-Turf cooler than the air temperature was measuring the infill, which in real life would be completely covered over by a field of plastic. Geo-Turf claims that the study was done with “no tricks, no data manipulation and no disputes.” Claims of this sort always put me on edge.
So what happens when you measure an actual Geo-Turf field? Well, there’s an on-line study showing that on a day when air temperature was only 71 degrees, Infill Pro Geo registered 107 degrees – thirty six degrees hotter than the air temperature! (Go to School Wires and click on 7.22.13 Geo-Turf heat Study 1.)
This past spring we had 71 degree days as early as April in Hastings, and we’re having them well into October. We’re not getting the straight story, folks. Heat is an issue.
Don't agree with me about climate change (though I suspect you do)? There are still plenty of other reasons to oppose Geo-Turf. For instance, the dangers of playing on artificial turf. Check out this video about artificial turf injuries.
While Geo-Turf is presenting only anecdotal information in support of its positive claim, if you search on line you can find a Q&A with a California school in which Geo-Turf admitted that risk of injury with their product can increase with increased use of their field.
According to the New York Times voter sentiment is turning away from artificial turf. Irvington voted against it. How will they write the story of Hastings?
VOTE NO on October 22, and then let’s all regroup as quickly as possible after that to plan a rehabilitated Reynolds Field that works for all of us, a field in line with the values articulated in our Sustainability Action Plan, and of which we can all be proud.
Please use the link on this page to e-mail this to your friends and neighbors. The views expressed are mine alone. But for more information I encourage you to go to SaveReynoldsField.org to learn more.
