Updates:
- "I need an IV": shoes melt as turf temperature reaches 157F in Eagles-Titans game The Guardian
- Poolesville Field Petition goes live - click here to add your name
The science is in - plastic fields are harmful to kids, the environment and taxpayers. They are banned in several states and cities. Despite what the industry says, there is no "new" technology to overcome the central problems of high heat, injuries and toxic exposure for our student athletes and the wider environment (along with folks who drink water).
The MoCo Board of Education (BOE) approved synthetic turf fields at Poolesville High School, atop the fragile drinking water aquifer, along with new plastic fields for several other schools at an initial cost of $55 Million dollars - with additional cost when they have to be replaced in a few years. Industry experts share that properly maintained natural grass fields are both cost effective and superior for player health.
The Montgomery County Council of PTAs along with 20+ local civic and environmental groups are opposed to any new artificial turf fields. We hope you can join our coalition of thousands of residents to oppose artificial turf in the interest of public health. We are asking the Council to act in their role as public health officers as the county code states.
Click "Start Writing" to make the case to Councilmembers today - and thank you!
The MoCo Board of Education (BOE) approved synthetic turf fields at Poolesville High School, atop the fragile drinking water aquifer, along with new plastic fields for several other schools at an initial cost of $55 Million dollars - with additional cost when they have to be replaced in a few years. Industry experts share that properly maintained natural grass fields are both cost effective and superior for player health.
The Montgomery County Council of PTAs along with 20+ local civic and environmental groups are opposed to any new artificial turf fields. We hope you can join our coalition of thousands of residents to oppose artificial turf in the interest of public health. We are asking the Council to act in their role as public health officers as the county code states.
Click "Start Writing" to make the case to Councilmembers today - and thank you!
The Real Grass for Healthy Kids Coalition recorded a webinar about the harms of artificial turf and the cost-effective real grass alternatives the County should use instead.
Breaking: The Children’s Environmental Health Center at Mt. Sinai Hospital Urges the Council to Deny MCPS requests for plastic fields.
Breaking: The Children’s Environmental Health Center at Mt. Sinai Hospital Urges the Council to Deny MCPS requests for plastic fields.
The MoCo Board of Ed approved PFAS laden synthetic turf fields at Poolesville High School, right above the sole source aquifer, along with new plastic fields for several other schools. Now the Council has the opportunity to deny the funding requests, improve grass field management and save $40 Million in a particularly tough budget year.
And yet -the straw vote at the Council just came back 6-5 in favor of plastic turf.
With the budget speeding toward passage, the Council needs to hear from you. (We understand Councilmembers Friedson, Luedtke, Evans, Katz, Fani-Gonzalez and Sayles have voted in favor of plastic fields. This after Fani Gonzalez and Sayles had committed to not support plastic fields in a recent Sierra Club questionnaire. Your letter will go to all Councilmembers).
The hundreds writing into the Council to oppose plastic turf - among them student groups and the Coalition of County PTAs- are all getting the same response from Council President Fani-Gonzalez - the Council can't earmark how MCPS spends allocated funds. Good News - the Council CAN choose to allocate funds for the much cheaper proper upkeep of grass fields and deny the extra **$40 Million** MCPS needs to install these plastic carpets - all while protecting public health and the public purse.
Make the case to Councilmembers today - and thank you!
And yet -the straw vote at the Council just came back 6-5 in favor of plastic turf.
With the budget speeding toward passage, the Council needs to hear from you. (We understand Councilmembers Friedson, Luedtke, Evans, Katz, Fani-Gonzalez and Sayles have voted in favor of plastic fields. This after Fani Gonzalez and Sayles had committed to not support plastic fields in a recent Sierra Club questionnaire. Your letter will go to all Councilmembers).
The hundreds writing into the Council to oppose plastic turf - among them student groups and the Coalition of County PTAs- are all getting the same response from Council President Fani-Gonzalez - the Council can't earmark how MCPS spends allocated funds. Good News - the Council CAN choose to allocate funds for the much cheaper proper upkeep of grass fields and deny the extra **$40 Million** MCPS needs to install these plastic carpets - all while protecting public health and the public purse.
Make the case to Councilmembers today - and thank you!
MCA is proud to be part of the Real Grass for Healthy Kids Coalition. Read our letter to the Council here.
