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04/25/2017 12:00 AMThe Middle School Building Committee has approved construction of two synthetic turf fields as a part of the middle school’s renovation project, but concerns are brewing about the materials being used.
Synthetic fields were first proposed to the Board of Education in 2014. The presentation stated that the growing number of participants in boys and girls sports programs in middle and high school were causing a stress on current athletic fields and costing thousands of dollars in staff hours and repairs. Artificial turf fields were found a better option than natural grass fields due to lower maintenance costs and the ability to play immediately after rainfall.
The Board of Education modified the middle school project to include three synthetic turf fields; budget constraints later changed that number to two.
The base material used to bid the synthetic fields was crumb rubber, which is material made from used rubber tires. The concern is that there are several chemicals in rubber that have toxic and carcinogenic properties, and that exposure to those chemicals would be possible via inhalation.
Instead of using regular crumb rubber, the Building Committee chose to use an alternative product called Cool Fill. The product is an encapsulated crumb rubber.
Town Attorney Jeffrey Donofrio, who has been working with the Building Committee on the project, was asked if there were any studies done on potential health hazards for the Cool Fill product.
“Not that I’m aware of,” said Donofrio, “Again, this not the black crumb rubber, this is encapsulated crumb rubber.”
Conservation Commission Chairman Hugh Davis, said that he was concerned about the health and safety aspect of Cool Fill material. He said that the material was untested, and there are ways to save money with grass fields.
“I think we have to err on the side of the safety and health of the children who are playing on these fields,” said Davis.
While Davis raised those concerns, First Selectman Michael Freda said that since the Board of Education and the Building Committee voted unanimously to have synthetic fields, it’s too late to change the decision, and it’s not something the Board of Selectmen can remedy.
“This board is not going to be overturning the decision,” said Freda, “It can’t overturn the decision.”
Second Selectman Timothy Doheny said that he is a strong proponent of the artificial turf fields, and has a son in middle school that will be playing on the fields once they are made.
“The benefit of these fields is that you can play on them in virtually any condition,” said Doheny, “Given the shortfall of fields we have in town, that’s what we need.”
While he said the town shouldn’t sacrifice kids’ health for the sake of more fields, he also said he is not 100 percent convinced the infill product is dangerous.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robert Cronin said that after the Board of Education heard a presentation on infill options for synthetic turf fields, it was comfortable moving forward with Cool Fill. He also said the Building Committee has done its homework on the topic.
“I know that the Building Committee has spent a great deal of time looking into turf fields,” said Cronin. “I know they’ve done a lot of research.”
Cronin also shared a letter he received in 2015 from the Connecticut Department of Public Health, which stated that the department found no scientific support of elevated cancer risk from inhalation or ingestion of chemicals derived from recycled tires used on artificial turf fields.
The fields at North Haven Middle School are expected to be ready for play in November.