“Synthetic turf” fields are costly plastic carpeted heat islands – each 2-acre plastic field generates 100s of tons of waste and sheds microplastics into the air the students breathe as well as into the soil, water over its 8-10 year usable life. The plastic carpet becomes hotter than asphalt in the sun, while grass is always close to ambient air temperature. Furthermore, according to MCPS,  for the  multimillion dollar price of a single plastic synthetic turf they can install at least 4 cool, health-giving durable sustainable grass fields (and unlike plastic there is no disposal and replacement cost).

MCPS created the access and playability problem by disinvesting in grass field design,  and management and ignoring experts over the past 20 years. MCPS complains about poorly designed and managed grass ( MCPS’s  fault), while ignoring or downplaying the health, environmental and playability problems created by dozens of acres of disposable, disintegrating  plastic carpets now falling apart in our midst. 

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First:  Real GRASS TURF FIELDS CAN be constructed and maintained to be high-performing, high-use and durable, while cooling and oxygenating the air around the players, filtering rain water and providing a firm but forgiving surface for play. They can do so at a fraction of the cost of plastic fields but grass fields have struggled because they’ve never been funded properly or given the appropriate expert attention that is provided to disposable, short-lived plastic fields. MCPS owes it to parents, students and taxpayers to create the safer, softer, cooler & cost-effective  grass surfaces that athletes from amateurs up to the NFL,NCAA, and FIFA all want.