We sometimes get asked if we have concerns about placing a single synthetic turf field in one particular location at Albemarle, along Crafts St. We don’t.
Note that “we” in this case describes the Board, and includes many, but not all, members of the Friends of Albemarle. This is an issue which has two reasonable sides.
We think the best metaphor is an asphalt road versus a dirt road. We like dirt roads – except in high-volume locations where there is so much traffic that the dirt road must be periodically shut down. That’s what the field at Crafts is – a beautiful grass field that gets the MOST USE of any field, outside of the school fields, in the ENTIRE CITY of Newton. Both in time permitted, and in community use; whether it’s athletic use for cricket, Ultimate, football, soccer, lacrosse, Day Middle School student use in PE; or in use by the community as part of cross country skiing, snowshoeing, birdwatching, nature trails, or celebrations like Indigenous People’s Day or July 4th – this field sees it all.
It gets so much use that it requires lots of irrigation, creates lots of run-off, needs a lot of maintenance, and especially when Albemarle is in even more demand, will not be able to operate regularly due to high foot traffic. We think turf will provide our community with a highly functional space for a wide range of healthy outdoor recreation.
If we DO have concerns, they are mostly about access. If it is turf, then NNHS will get priority use, and we would want to have community access also ensured. But regardless of access, we think turf is the best surface for this two-acre field along Crafts St.
Here’s why:
Out of Newton’s 119 acres of public playing fields, Albemarle would raise the total turf to 8 acres. That’s just 6.7% of Newton’s fields – 2 turf fields at Newton South HS, 1 at Newton North HS, and 1 at Albemarle. We think that percentage is acceptable for a city of 90,000 people.
It would be the only turf field that is not at a school. This enables greater community use.
Having a turf field means far less water use and run off into Cheesecake Brook, part of an ecological wetland that connects to the Charles River and from there into the Atlantic Ocean. Modern turf is permeable and rain will infiltrate down into the ground.
A turf field means that irrigation efforts can be better focused on the rest of Albemarle.
Turf technology is evolving, becoming healthier, safer, better for play and more environmentally sound.
Synthetic turf is also more playable across the New England seasons than natural grass, thus expanding use on currently available land.
Without synthetic turf at Albemarle, the multipurpose field will likely suffer both many closures and increased water use, especially with the new modern lights. More use is expected at Albemarle as a result of the replacement of the field lights.
Some opponents to this material mention the negative effects of the chemicals used in synthetic turf, but they are very commonly used; if we’re going to ban these chemicals at Albemarle, we need to be consistent and ban them throughout our households across the city. Synthetic turf does not expose users to more risk than something like toothpaste or toilet paper.
Funding?
The Community Preservation Committee (CPC) is not being asked for funding for synthetic turf. Instead, any CPC funding received will be directed toward things like fields, pathways, lights, courts, trees, fences, rain gardens and signage. Funding for turf will be determined later in the process.
Friends of Albemarle 
Just a note – Its interesting that the word “plastic” is never used. Sad misinformation. The industry has co-opted the word “turf” which formerly meant turfGRASS to distract from the fact that synthetic turf is PLASTIC carpeting. A literal “hot mess” (hotter than asphalt) of “forever waste” made possible by the addition of the PFAS “forever chemicals” to the plastic mix in manufacture. It is 40-50,000 pounds of plastic shag carpet with 400,000 pounds or more of infill – (usually granulated tires which themselves contain numerous toxic chemicals that are neurotoxic, carcinogenic, endocrine disrupting to humans and extremely toxic to aquatic organisms large and small).
Regardless of the infill used- the plastic is petroleum based and full of toxic chemicals and heavy metals to prevent flammability, quick breakdown by sunlight and fading of pigments. They also outgas greenhouse gases methane and ethylene throughout their lifecycle. Which is short. For the use you summarize experience shows the surface will likely be hard as concrete in 5-6 years or so. Totally unsafe for play. If play is continued
it will be worn out with infill spilling everywhere and not safely usable by 8 years. No way to restore the way grass can be. Must dump and replace the plastic carpet and infill. Do you know where they will dump the worn out carpeting and infill?
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It’s often called “synthetic turf”, the use of the word synthetic makes clear it’s not natural grass turf.
PFAS are not used in the manufacturing of the products the city has selected.
Newton is not using crumb rubber from recycled tires, so none of the toxic contaminants that you will find on roads and streets will be in the infill material.
The fields do not get hard over time with proper maintenance. The fields are tested for shock absorption annually and Newton’s have always been within the acceptable range.
Recycling: Please see the Mayor’s Update from August 8 that shares how the materials will be recycled.https://www.newtonma.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/107616/638271072949330000
The synthetic turf carpet will be used to make plastic benches and synthetic boardwalk lumber. The infill Newton has selected is reusable, it does not need to be discarded when the field is recycled. The old infill will be used in new fields constructed elsewhere. You will not find an article about the new recycling plant Newton is using, it’s that new. Anything talking about carpets sitting outside is unrelated. Newton vowed to recycle our old products, and is keeping that promise.
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